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990

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32 X

< '

SUBV

TENTH REPORT

OF THE

COMMITTJGE

OF THE

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY,

ON THAT PART OF THE SPEECH

OTt

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR IN CHIEF

WHICH RELATES

«> THK

SETTLEMENT

OF THE

COMPRISING A '^^'^^ -mm^

F»ORT ON HIS EXCELLENCiT'S MESSAGE
RELATING TO THE OFFER,

raou

LIEUT. COL. JOSEPH BOUCHETTE

SURVEYOR GENERAL OF THE PROVINCE, TO THEGOVERNMENT,

OF THE PtATES OF HIS MAPS 01- CANADA :

WITH THE

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

TAK2K BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.

[ORDERED TO BE PRINTED THE FIITH MARCH 1824.3

QUEBEC :

Wintcd b, NEILSON ft COWAN. No. 3. Mountain Street.

1S24.

' .. »-

890417

YH^uL?rSdi;:fVfb:^ 'hey submuted to the

pointed out the S,^,7. ''''*'v''"''"g"'''^o«hernia

which wou d flow frZTt rrtXh "I '" '^^ ^^^^^^ °^ ''''« ^"""''7
Trade Act which SaTeVto fhl? ^ •' '^"Tr"'^ ""^^^ '^' Canada

of .he aforesaidAc", andTn i„lL ,t ■'"i^°""/''v""''" "■« »"'l>"'iry
ward, be .epaired, vl, CoS L I'"™","? "''"'' '""I'' "« 'f'"-

" the same into the hands of His mZI ^ "^ f"^«^«n^, may renrler
" and consent of the rxecut vVr"' ^ i'"? u^"^' ^^ ""'^ *'"^ *»'« «Jvice
" fresh Grant to be made thereoffn'^ 1'^' '"^ f^''^''''^^' "»^'-" ^
" the payment of ceS 8„m ^ it T '°"""°" ^°"^g^' ""^ject to
"Fine^ -dotherduth eon's cT^ >" commu.a.ion'of the

" and to such conditions as taH^^M • ^ ^'^ Payable to His Majesty,
" nant Governor o pe'so^ Admin^f^'^^ "k ''';.''"• ^"'^^""'•' '--'^"'-
"just and reasonable." ^dminmer.ng the Government shall deem

•* That the unconceded Lands HpM K,r t;,o c •
« vince, are held by thjl sSct to hJ '^"J'"" '" ^'/'" '^''^ ^'o-

« ging to settle the'eon "^b ect on v to tK f '° !,"^. ^^P"""' ^S^
" on., and that it is o„ Gra.Sr 1. ' f '="J'°'"ed dues and conditi.
« Soil in this Province d^ne d for hl% . ' '^'' '}''' Cultivators of , he

« the said Cultivator . an^theil ch^f^^^^^^^ °^'^"l: ''''''^""' ^''^^

« such Grants. *''"''^'^''' ''^''"g « ^gal "ghi to obtain

« rie would depiive aih .xl X, v nf /l . T' k^"^' '" ^'"f'* ^">««-
•' individual, advalpeous fo L 5 ^^ "«''*' '"^'''^ '" ''^"^^^i^l ^o the
« tulations oVthe Sry^Tby an rrnrh^"^ ^""^r^"'* ''^ '"- Capi.
« of His late Majesty.^ ^ Actof the fourtecnthyearof ,he Rdgn

" ."p^pt", t^o''f:r:s' ryt;:^„fi':j;,^/-y --^-^ „pon . ,«

« constituents, humbly reLseSt tt m^f. ^T"' ^'''"^ ''g^t of its

" pray, that in an. .«Ll'?'"'"*. V'f •"'"^': *° Your Excellencv. and

' ^"""'"^""^ ^"Jf '^ "'"y ^« imposed on any Se.gneu.^

.ij'

" rendering Lands under the said Act to obtain a Grant thereof in
*• Free and Common Soccage, such conditions may be imposed on
«* such Seigneur, in conformity to the said Act, as may preserve cn-
•• tire the right of the Subject to a Grant of said Waste Lands, at
*• the usual ReJevanet or dues and conditions."

Which was accordingly done, and the said Address Ordered.

That the said Address was presented to His Excellency on the third
day of March instant, and that His Excellency was graciously pleased
to give the following Answer :

«« I shall pay every attention to the subject of this Address, when any
" exchange of the Seigniorial Tenure shall come under my consider-

« ation."

Your Committee next proceeded to take into their serious consideration
the gracious Message of His Excellency the Governor in Chief to the
House, bearing date the 21st day of February last, und the offer from
the Surveyor General of the Province to the Government, of the plates
of his Maps of Canada, recommended by His Excellency to the favo-
rable consideration of the House.

Your Committee examined the Surveyor General upon the subject of
the Reference, they caused to be laid before them and carefully perused
the Message of His Excellency the Governor in Chief dated 28th Fe-
bruary 1821, also the Report of the Special Committee to whom the
said Message was referred, bearing date the 7th March 1821, also the
Report of a Special Committee dated 15ih March 1819 on a Petition
from the Surveyor General, recommended by His Grace the late Duke
of Richmond the then Governor in Chief, also the Report of a Com-
mittee dated 16th January 1818, on a Petition from the Surveyor General
recommended by Sir John Coape Sherbrooke the then Governor in
Chief, also the Report of a Committee dated 4th March 1817, on a
similar Petition from him, and likewise recommended by the then Go-
vernor in Chief Sir John Coape Sherbrooke.

Your Committee then caused to be laid before them the Map as im-
proved by Lieutenant-Colonel Bouchette and the Original Documents
and Plans referred to in his examination.

Your Committee satisfied that the improvements already made and
those contemplated by Lieutenant-Colonel Bouchette would be of great
utility, deliberated upon his proposal to assign over to the Province the o-
rginal Plates as well of his large Map of Lower-Canada, as of his general
Maps of Lower & Upper-Canada, and the neighbouring Countries, for the
price which the same cosi him, & to complete in the course of the next six
months his improved large Map of Lower-Canada, receiving as a rennune-
ration for his labour & trouble, a sum making with the before mentioned
cost of the said Plates the sum of fifteen hundred pounds, or that he would
be willing to assign over to the Province the said improved Map engaging
to con.plete the same as before, upon receiving the said cost of the Pla-
tes s»nd as a remuneration for his said trouble one half of the impression
free from the expense of the Engraving. Printing and Stationaay.

«(

«c
«

The result of the deliberations of your Committee upon this propo-
sal of Lieutenaii'-Coloiiel Bouchette was the conviction ihat which
ever of the alternatives was adopted would if acceded to by the House
produce trouble and require superin^endance of the impression of the
Maps and of their Sale when prin'.ed, which could not be advantageous-
ly besiowed, and thar they therefore could not recommend the i>ame ;
whereupon they caused Lieutenant-Colonel Bouchette to come before
them stated to him ti.o above objection and enquired of him whether he
could make any other proposal not liable to the foregoing objection, and
if so to communicate the same t>i the Committee in writing.

There was subsequently laid before the Committee the followinjj
proposal. **

" At the request of the Committee Lieutenant-Colonel Bouchette has
" the honor of srbmittiiig to them the following proposal, that a Sum
" of ^450 Sterling be allowed him as a remuneration for the improve-
" ments made and to be made by him upon his large Map of Lower-
♦« Canada, and a further Sum of ^450 Sterling be appropriated for aid-
ing in such manner as the House shall deem most expedient, to meet
the expenses of Engraving, Printing and Stationary to be incurred
in republishing the same, he furnishing toeaqh Branqh of the Legis-
latute two Copies of the said Map when tjie impression shall be com-
*♦ pleated."

This subject being intimately connected with the important matter of
the exploring of the Interior of Lower-Canada as well upon the North
as upon the South Shore, and with the opening of Roads of Commu-

nic .tion to the remote and unsettled parts of the Province Your Com-

initlee next directed their attention to these objects.

The Evidence taken before your Committee since the making of
their Report on the third day of February last, and which Evidence" re-
lates as well to the general objects of the Reference as to these twp
particular heads, will be found in the Appendix to tliis Report.

r u°"''t^^"'?"''"" ^'*° ""^^'^ ^" ^^ '^''^ before them the Messarre
of His Excellency the Governor in Chief, bearing date the tenth of Fe-
bruary one thousand eight hundred and twenty thiee, and received by
the House on the twelfth day of the same month, >vherein His Excel-
lency is graciously pleased to say.

" The Governor in Chief does not intend to call the atter.'ion of the
« Legislature in this Session to the state of the Roads generally in this
" Province, but as there are some points where the Public Interests suf-
« fer from want of Roads which may be obtained at a very moderate
«« Expense, the Governor in Chief lays a list of them before the Houpc
« of Assembly with such information as he h^s obtain upon the subject and
« recommends such aid may be granted for each as may seem proper.'*
They caused also to be laid before them the uj'pers accompanying the
eaid Message, as well as the Report of the Vcial Committee to whom
the said Message and Papers were referred, received by the H.^use th-
^5th day of February of the same year.

:f.'.K:

Where there ii so much to be done in the way of ejcplorine the Pro-
vincc generally, ascertaininfe its reiources, and rendering its remote parts
accessible to settlers, it is difficult for your Committee to select the part
ot the Province where a beginning ought to be made.

Upon examining the improved Map of Lieutenant Colonel Bouchette.
and Inferring as wdl to his evidence as to the evidence of Jean Thoma
Taschereau and Robert Christie, Esquires, and to the local advantages of
inland navigation which the Country affords, and the smallness of the
expense to br incurred when compared with the advantages which a mea.
sure such as your Committee is about to recommend would produce it
appears 10 your Committee, that the country from the soirees of 'the
Saint John 8 R.ver to lem.scouata ought to be explored without loss of
time, and that for this purpose an appropriation of One hundred pounds
Sterling ought to be made, and further, that when and so soon as the
just claims of His Majesty to that portion of the country are finally set!
tied, measures should be taken to open a direct communication from the
settled parts of the Province on the southern banks of the Saint Law-
rence, from the most convenient point which can be selected between
Point Levy and Kamouraska, and your Committee have reason to be-
heve, that a sufficient Road for the introduction of first Settlers could
be opened from the St. Lawr.nce to the River Saint John, for an ex-
pense not exceeding Five hundred pounds.

Your Committe would next submit to the House, whether it would

of Maskinonge and River du Loup, on the North Shore of the Saint
Lawrence, and the Lake of the Chats of the River Ottawa, with a view
of ascertaining whether any and what quantity of cultivable ground was
to be found there, and whether a Road coulJ advantageously be made
connecting the settlements upon tht said Lake with the old Settlements
in thesaid Parishes of Maskinonge and River du Loup, andat wS ei.
pense ; and your Committee have reason to believe that such a Survey
would not cost more than Two hundred pounds. ^

Your Committee also submit to the House, whether it would not be
advantageous to the Province to possess these Plates of Colonel Bou-
chette s Maps, for the purpose of obtaining hereafter, at a moderate
expense, improved Maps of the Province, containing the additional infor-
mation resulting from recent Surveys, and such as may hereafter be made
from time to time. "<auc

Your Committee would also submit to the House, whether it would
not be desireable that an exploring Survey should be made of the coun-
try lying between Quebec and Lake Temhcamin., following as nearly as
possible the paralW of North Latitude 47 deg.f ascertaining the quS^^ty
^J.hfh^nJV'*-?' practicability of making a Road thither as near a^s
might be on the said parralle , with a branch from the said Road striking
the River Ottawa at Lake dtt Chats. ""^mg

Your Committee also submit to the House, whether it would not be
desirable that the interior country lying between Lake St, John and

tu^T/rpWed!" ""• '•''• '"' '"= "'"" S<- M-ri« «» .1.. o,.,=r.
domof the Fv.^nt; <-^ objects, generally k-av ng it to the wi»

magnitude and .^portance " 1 e S"; of t''"p^"^-""°" "^ ""fficient
lopement of its agricultural reZ^rl. ^ a ^ ?''7'"" ="'' thedeve-
line of conduct as mayt7onduei^^^^^^^^ '" '^'' r*" '^"^'' ^^^^^

mittee are persuaded there is a «r . T P""'?^''^''' ^^^ich your Com-

Province to^rsue.ff p " j! Sed " ri? '",'^1?^?"'^'-" of this
gisiature may give effect. ^"^^"^'^' «'"! »" which some future Lc

All which ii nevertheless humbly submitted.

Quebec, 5th March 1821.

ANDREW STUART,

Chairman.

ill

APPENDIX.

''I

[Appendix.]

„ite" ^^°"'>--°'*'-'. Enquire, appeared before your Com.

Q What are the Duties and Emoluments of that Office ?

rolment of each Patent .,f oonn . /'"^^n" /^s. tor the En-
2000 words et/erToo word! "^' '' ""^"' "^^" ^^^^^

Q Are there any Dockets made in th*. A.Vl nffl.^ u r
upon or .f,er. he granting „,■ Land, iV,L'?a<m„,^^^^^

•h P„°vinc::r1n°S B^Zn^^ ^"'''°"''" ^^^ "i*"
Granting of" aids ? '" '""'°''- '° " "°«™"g .he

A. No, not any.

olX vo?' ^";'r'' ,^^^'*- ^PI^^^^^^'^ '^^f°'-« yo- Committee
Pagntst^^C?^ofl^^^^^^^^^^ ^^-- <>^^"ncl'

thi^pTolit:: W ?eWy'°8lf1"K''" ^^^^^^^^-^ for
of the ntuation fmcc ISU ^^^^""^ ^''' P^''-f°^'»«d ^l^« ^""es

A '~S'i T '^c l"^'^'.^"d Emoluments of that office ?
Wafte lands of the Crown water In?, * r ^^, '^""'^ ^'""''"^

on.

nnd to account for the fame, and he is alfo a Ma«,k»« r i
Auxiliary Land Board elbbliihed t sl'^ f:rS. il*:
cZTl^ V !'«'"™'f?-- Grants of,.,; Waft 7a„t" f g

Townlol ' '^"■■""'f'" '^"'"""•Grants of Water lots or

Q— Are there any Docket! made in the faid office before nn
on or after the Granting oi Lands in the faid Province i' "'
l.,r o "i^'" .""H' '" '''^' "ffl" "s above ftated after the
Ihe'covror.'^""""^ Lands as before tnentioned. are f^nedt

Board or Board,, or any^ther Pnliic anZu et e r 'S
this Province or in Great Britain, in relation m nr ^ •

the Granting of Lands? *° °'^ concerning

A.-No reports of the nature ftated in this queftion are noitr
made, except when er .rs are found in Letters P^Z • u • 7
cafes I return the Patent to the Secre'ry TfX"^ r^^^^^^^^^ Jj^^ a
ftatement of the circurnftance and if the error io a mT« i ^
decline auditing the Patent-Reports orV^eV^f tTe'^^^^
Dockets appear to have been made formerly to the Secretiv or
the Lords Commiffioners of His Majefty's Treafurv bmlP
find by the Books that this has U donefZ 1800 Ivt
practice originated I believe from the circurnftance that in fTrmer
trncs. m this, as in most of the Colonies, r^uif re^^^wire e tW
exafted or made payable on Grants of Lands forThe puroofi of
raifing a revenue, and the fituation of Auditor of Land P^s be
came .n fome refpects conneaed with and fubordinate to^hat n"f
Auditor General of the Plantations. "ruinate to that of

Joseph Bouchette, Esquire, Surveyor General of lower-Ca
nada, appeared before your Committee. J-ower-La-

Q. Could a road be advantajreoufly carried from a„«
the fonth ftore of the St. ^^.J^Tv^Zr^SZ
depa°re ' "'"' """'"' ^ '"' """ft advantageous poinrof

h,t'LT/°f'-^^°"" T'° "*■ C''""»-l<:ation between Quo-
bee and Frederteton may be uWmately ifllacd by opening ,

Road in a more direiH: line between thefe two places, and the dis-
tance compared with the Tcmisrouitta route rendered nearly one
third fliorter ; perhaps from L'Islet as the point of departure to the
St. John's, and thence in the nearctl direction towards Frederick-
ton — But at this moment there are ftrong reafons which induce
me to think that the fliorteft and only practicable route from
Quebec to Frederickton for feveral years to come, muft inevita-
bly be that of the 7>?>/ivco«rt/rt Portage Road. — Ifb, becaufe the
Country from the St. Lawrence to the ibuthern boundary of the
Province in the diredlion of a new communication is yet in a
flate of perfect wildernefs, and it would be in vain to attempt the
opening of a Road through fuch an extenfive tradl of Coun-
try but little known, and how much thereof is practicable for fet-
tlements being ftill unknown. — And 2ndly becaufe no final deci-
fion on the fubjedt of the boundary line between this Province
and the United States, under the 5th Article of the Treaty of
Ghent has been given.

Q. What is the course of the river St. John from Lake Tt-
miscouala to the Bay of Funday, what is the general defcription
of the water communication, and how far is it navigable and by
what fort of crafts — and what are the obftrudlions by rapids, falls
or otherwife ?

A. The general courfe is about fouth eaft, and the diftance down,
by the rivers Madawaska and St. John to the Bay of Funday is
about three hundred miles, the average breadth of the Madawas-
ka is from five to ten chains, and that of the St. John from ten
to twenty chains, until it widens confiderably below Presqu' Isle,
The waters rife confiderably in the Fall and Spring of the year in
both rivers.— The current is in fome places very rapid, at others
gentle — both are navigable for canoes and flat boats with the ex-
ception of thofe places or parts of the river obftrudled by Falls
or Rapids, at which places tlaere are-ihort portages, the principal
are the Great Falls of 75 feet high, and the Little Falls near the
confluence of the two rivers — as to Rapids there is one a little
below the forks — from thence to the Great Falls the navigation
is easy and fit for steam-boats, and io is the Madawaska above
the Little Falls to Lake Temiscouata — then again from the Green
River below the falls of the St. John, there are a few interruptions
by Rapids — but of no great confequence — to Presqu'Isfe ; f^7om
JHresqu'Isle to Fredmckton, long intervals are to be fcfund
where fteam-boats may ply down to Frederickton where veflils of
50 to 100 tons come up from the fea — The importance of
this water communication is not fufiiciently appreciated, and it
may ultimately be found, that a Steam-Boat navigation may be

effected from the fource of the River St. John 10 or m -r
from Quebec, at all events with few inte up o^s I^/f ":;'^^
.nformafon respecting this co.n.nunication^ be '' leave to t'
tomjr Topograph V of Canada. *" '^^'^'^

A. Perhaps about fourteen leagues.

Q. What is the depth of the Settlements of llslct '

A. About a league and a ha'f

from the general coiirfe of the Ricrr i, i i, f T' "''"'■'
fource near that of the Etchemin I hi^v ''° "'"'J' "'''' '"
JUa,h-^a,ka a-d run„ L , it d„i „ 'T '" '^!?°,''°"^ '° "«
Lawrence, I have alwlyf viewed the ,"'/''' P="' '' "' •!■= St.
extenfive field for fettlem' nZhich'oI in' ZT,? ' 'f ='"''

nl;s" "''""^^^' -<■ ^^^»-^ic;^ rfl^,' y •;

A. I have no perfonal knowledge of tint R ;,,«.. r i , ,

Rapids. A. its confluSe wlt^h" mI;;.' T '"'"'"P'^'l by

-"h the St. JohnitLy be faid ,„Te „, i' b l L'°?! "^^^

»« no rap.ds. It ,s 3u mtles to Luke Tanhcoual,, on »hich Lake

o £

•J

VefTels of burthen may navigate, and indeed I am of opinion a
Steam.Boat might ply from that Lake to the Little Falls. The
Current is gentle and the River may be faid to be about from five
to ten Chains wide. The Banks of the River are generally low
and the Lands fit for Settlement. There are fome at prefent in
progress fuch as the Trout and Birch River Settlements, coropo-
fed of disbanded Veteran Soldiers.

[Commission of Jos. Bouchette, Efq.]

(Signed) ROB. S. MILNES,

n ^ Lieutenant Governor.

Province of Lower-Canada.

GEORGE the THIRD, by the Grace of God, of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith ;—
Fiat. 7° ^^' *° "'^°'" '^^^^ Presenf- shall come, Greet-

Recorder in the Regis> '"g s Know YE that we reposing especial trust
ment "S'^Vu'ebS;""'".! ^"'' 5""'^'^^"<=<^ '" ^^^ abilities, experience, care
Tuesday the "iV day of and fidelity of our trusty and well beloved Joseph
November 1803, in the Bouchette, Esquire, have nominated, constituted
?^«KtfnSdcli^!: «"^ ^??omed, and by these Presents do nominate,
»ions. folio 124. constitute and appoint him, the said Joseph Bou-

^^'SneH) chette, to be our Surveyor General for the admea-

^'Dep-^Re^l' ^"""?' surveying and setting out of Lands in our
Province of Lower-Canada in America, in the
room, place and stead of Samuel Holland, Esquire, lately deceased,
with power to the said Joseph Bouchette to do, execute and perform by
himself or his sufficient Deputy or Deputies all things whatsoever be-
longing to the said Office, to have, hold, execute and enjoy the said
Office during our Plea;.ure, together with all Salaries, Fees, perquisites.
Profits and Advantages thereunto of right belonging or appertaining :
And we do hereby charge and require him, the said Joseph Bouchette,
in the execution of the Trust hereby committed unto him and in all
things concerning the same, to observe, follow and govern himself ac-
cording to such Orders, Rules and Instructions as he shall receive from us
by any Warrant or Writing under our Royal Sign manual, or under the
Hand and Seal at Arms, of our Governor, Lieutenant Governor or other
Person administering the Government of our said Province for the time
being. In Testimony whereof, we have caused the Great Seal of our
said Province of Lower Canada to be hereunto affixed, and the same to
be entered of Record in our Registrar's Office or Office of Enrollment*
for our said Province. Witness our Tiusty and Well beloved Sir Ro-
bert Shore Milnes, Baronet, our Lieutenant-Governor of and for our said
Province of LowcfCanada, at oar Castle of Saiiit Lewis, in our City

of Quebec, in our said Province, the first Jay of November, in 'he yeai

(Signed) N^™.T«LO,. <^''«""" *• «■ M.

Dy. Seciy.

Provincial KSecretary's Office,
Quebec, 4ah February 1824.

Ls. MONTIZAMBERT,

Actg. Prov. Secy, and Reg.

as Sws^'^''' appeared before your Committee and anfwered

.H?\?*r ??" ^^^ f .y '"'^ ""^'^ '"^^"5 °f becoming acquaint-
ed with the Country lying on the fouthern shore of the St Law-
rence, between this Province and New Brunfwick ?
rrr'tu '" '^^ '"""^Ij "^ ^"'7 '^st I was employed by His Excellen-
cy the Governor General to examine that part of the line of
commun.cat.on which lies between the River St. Lawrence and
the Madawaska Settlement, with a view to afcertain if it were
advfeable to g.ve a different direftion to the Road acroft the «o !
tage of lemtscouata &c. and alfo to enquire into the state of
luch of the Pensioners as might remain on that portion of the

Q. Will you ftate to the Committee the ftreams and Lakes.

S'l!!" ""f "r'^r ''^P'^r^V' how and for what dillance na^
v.gable, and what ipec.es of fish are found therein, as far as the
lame came under your obfervation ?

A. The largest ftream on the Portage is the River du Loup
whjch crofses ,t about five miles from Cote's on the St. Lawrence^
and runs ma north wefterly direftion towards that River, into
whjch It faUs. Its breadth at the bridge is about 80 or 90 iards!
w.th h,ghfteep banks, but is very fluLw. being hardly nlvga:
ble for a bark Canoe ; the bridge at this place is a flat wooden
one appearing well conftruaed and in good repair,
fnnlh /'"J^ Riyerdu Loup about one mile further on runs in a
foujeriy d.rea.on and is about twelve or fourteen feet wide, ve-

7o atveThrbrldgT"'^ ' '^^"^' °' '''''''''' ^^^^^ '^ '^^ -^

. v.. n

•I

The St. Francis, fixteen miles from the St. Lawrence is about
thirty feet wide and very fhallow, this is the only river on the
Portage, which runs continually in a fouthern direc'tion and is
faid to fall into the St. John.

In addition to the above named Streams there are the Pertct
Crandi , Petite Foiurf/e and Little, Rivers, all of which are from
fifteen to twenty-five feet wide, besides a number of fmaller ones
which vary from ten to fifteen feet in width, and alfo run to-
wards the north ; thefe different streams are all very fhallow and
in general fupplied with Trout and other fmall fish.

In exploring to the north of the Portage, I came upon the
banks of a fmall Lake of about three miles in circumference, its
average breadth being about one quarter of a mile, and on the
fouth I faw two more, one of which appeared to be about three
and the other from five to six miles in circumference, but not ha-
ving made any furvey of their exact pofitions, and my guides ha-
ving told me they had no names, I can give no further informa-
tion refpeaing them, except that they are faid to abound with
Fish and that the land about them appeared in many places fit for
cultivation.

Mj guides alfo informed me there were two Lakes on the
north (which I did not fee) of larger dimensions, which from
their account appeared to be situated fomewhcre about three
leagues from the Lake Temilcouata and nearly the fame diflance
from the Portage Road.

The River Cabinot runs into the Lake Temifcouata to the
fouth of the Portage about three miles from Long's and is faid to
be thirty feet wide, but no great depth.

The Lake Temifcouati; is a very fine sheet of water, faid to be
27 nriiles long, averaging I fliould suppofe one mile in breadth
and is of a sufficient depth to be navigated bj* Vefl:els of confid-
erable burthen, this Lake is faid to abound with most of the va-
rieties of Fish ufually found in the waters of this Country, among
which is a fpecies of Salmon or Lake Trout weighing from ten
to twenty pounds, which the Settlers frequently spear.

Q. What is the nature of the Climate and what is the general
appearance of the Country }

A. Having only vifited the feaion of the Country once and
th-'t in the month of July last, I can merely obferve that there
appears little difference of climate between it and Quebec— I was
however informed by the fettlers that wheat is an micertain crop,
and that they are more fubjeft to frofts in the Autumn, which
fometimes deftroys their Potatoes : this evil may in a great mea-
fure be removed when a greater fpace iscleafcd.

nrn^n ? i^ rountry to the right and left of the Portage I
proceeded as far as three leagues diflani from it, and found tl e 1-
neral appearance of the ( ountry very unev^sbein.. a con ,3
^cce/non of n^ounrains feparated by 'cedar lwJmps"^ext end g ,^
many,nrtancesfroni one or two league., and my guides inform d
me they were much more extenfive. "imcu

tivS'on^^'' " '^'' ^""''^ °^ '^'^°'' '"^ ''' ^"^"P'lbility of cul-

A. The fwamps when cleared and drained would prove valua-
ble as „,eadow Lands, the foil being in many places ^ deep;
butthemountamous parts with little exception are very rocW
and gravelly confequently but little fuited to the purpofS^s of
Agriculture, there are however fpots of fome extent eZ here
=nd there covered with fugar maple and other hard wood weH
worth attention ; but fo long as the road remainsTn irpreS
truly wretched ftate, the man muft be little lefs than InfU who
fettles upon .t without promifes of great affistance.
y. What defcnption of Timber did you obferve ?
A. The timber found on this traft is principally compofed of
cedars, Saptm, Pmes. Hemlock and Bafs, interred Sa few
groves of Maple and a fprinkling of Beech or Birch.

tJ^'V'^'T '"r ""'^y P'^"' =^ ^" """^"^1 size, particularly
the Cedars, fome few Pines and Hemlock. -•rticuiarly

thiSraalTcrumrV?'""'' vegetable and mineral produftions of

A. I faw no animals except a very few Birds ; tracks of Bears
Deer, Rabbu. and one Beaver Dam were to be feen nd my
guides who go out every winter to hunt for thofe animals as weU
dV^: aT ?*^'-^"dMufqua(h, fay they are not very bun
dam. and that they are evidently decreasing in numbers. '
With regard to the vegetable produftions there ai^pears to be

As to minerals I had no time to make any particular feirrl, ^F
ter them and the only produ<Etion of any iL'pomnce tha am
aware of, .s a bed of excellent lime found on the shore of Lake
Tenmcouata by Colonel Fraser. ^^^

Q. What was your Route ?

A. I went from Quebec near to Kamoun ska by water and
from thence by land to Long's at the end of the Po^rtage, which
I sketched as I went along. ""^"ge, wnictx

nav^abmt'V' '"' '^'^^ "' ">= «"" Mada-^ada its .ize and

B 4,

A. This River IS formed by the waters of the Lake Tnniscou^
ata, from which it ifTues at its fouthern extremity and is about
twenty-eight miles long, falling into the St. John at the head of
what IS called the Maduxcadu lettlement.

Its breadth varies from ninety to one hundred and fifty yards
and in many parts very fhaliow during the fummer months, in-
deed fo much fo, as to render it not navigable for any thing but a
Canoe ; it is however poffible that it might be navigated by very
flatly conftrudted Boats, but the ftrength of the current would
make It difficult to get them up again ; in the spring I am told
large Rafts of Timber defcend this River ; the little Falls, which
are withm a fhort diftance of its jundion with the St. John,
render a Portage of from fifty to a hundred yards nscefsary even
with a Canoe. '

There is a great abundance of the ufual varieties of fish in
this River a- wdl as in the Bouleau, Perche and Trout Rivers,
which are from twenty to thirty feet wide each and all fall
tnto this River.

The land on the banks of the Madawasha and its tributary
ftreams, as far as I explored them, appeared to be in mofl places
ot a luperior quality.

There is very much wanted a road from Long's at the end of
the Portage to pass near the edge of the Lake and to terminate at
theDegele, a diftance of about fifteen miles, which would con-
nect the Portage with a road opened two years ago by the Pro-
vmceof NewBrunfwick, which Mr. Ehen oi Madav.-.isha faid
he underftood had cost three hundred pounds for an extent of
twenty-eight miles of twelve feet wide.

Q. Do many perfons travel that route, at what feafons of the
year, and for what purpofes ?

A. I was on the Portage eight or ten days and during that pe-
nod met generally two or three families who feemed moftly to be
poor persons removing from one Province to the other.

The Storekeepers at Madazcaska generally bring their Peltries
to Quebec, and purchafe their goods here in preference to gettinjr
them at Frederifton ; the reafon afligned to me was that the pas^
fage up the River St. John was tedious, and Merchandize was chea-
per at Quebec, where the Merchants import their Goods direct
from England, whereas thofe imported at Frederifton muft have
been tranfliipped at St. John's and conveyed from thence up that
River m fmaller Craft, and as I was informed the Merchants at
Frederifton obtain all their luppiies from thofe at St. John, the
Importers, they muft of courfe add to the original price the cofts
and charges at that Port jn addition to their own profit.

' 1

I have therefore little doubt that with the exception of Lumber
the whole trade of that part of the Country would come to Que-
bec if there was a good Road. ^

Q. Wliat is the extent and description of the Settlements upon
that portion of the St. John that lies within this Province upon
ihe Mndnicashn River and the Lake Temiscouatn i

A. I cannot fay exactly where the Boundary between the two
Provmces terminates.

There were only three Families on the Oiores of the Lake 7V-
w/>To//«^, befides Colonel Frafer's, the Seignior, who went there
this year for the purpofe of Settling it.

On the Banks of the Madawmkn River there are five Fami-
lies and eight new clearings begun laft year, with every appearance
ot Families Settling on them, and as the Land on both fides of
this River is in molt places of a fuperior quality, I have no doubt
with good Roads every inch of it would be foon fettled.

1 he object of my vifit to the Mailawaska Settlement being
accomplifhed on my arrival at the upper end of it, and being li-
mited as to my time, I did not proceed more than four miles down
tne bt. John, but on this fpace there was every appearance of
comfort and the higheft ftate of cultivation ; the lands bordenW
on the River being remarkably fine and the farms joining one
another the fame as on the old Settlements on the Banks of the
ot Lawrence.

The Inhabitants are almoft all o. French extraction and Catholics
I took advantage of being there on a Sunday to go to their
Church, which although of confiderable dimenfions was as full
as It could hold, there being apparently from three to four hun-
dred perfons prefent, who for their ftation in life were well dres-
led.

They are faid to have no Medical man in the Settlement, which
extends about 25 miles down the River and contains a popu-
lation of from feven to nine hundred Souls, who had every ap-
pearance of being remarkably healthy.

The following Questions were sent by the Committee to divers gentle-

men in the Countiy.

1st. — Q. Have you had any and what means of becoming acquainted
with the River Saguenay or Lake St. John, and the Streams and Ri-
vers which fall into them respectively i

2d — g. What is the length, breadth, depth, and course of the River
Saguenay i

3d.— g. What are the Streams which fall into that River or into

I«

Lnkc St. John, their length, breadth, depth and course respeGfivcly,

?n"r"v5V 'i"'""''-' ''''"^"^^'' and what ,p.cies of Fish are fo.S
in the said R.ver Sagueuay, or i„ Lake St. John, or in the Streams
which empty thenfiselves into either of them ? oircams

4ih.-Q. What are the Lakes in the Country commonly callsd Kinc'g
Posts, and what are the.r size., shapes, positions, depth of water, ami
su.cep„b,hty of navigation respectively : -and what are the various spe.
cies ot Fish produced therein and in what quantities >

5ih._Q What isthesize, shape & extent, & of what drpth of wa-
ter IS 1 ake Mistassinis situate upon the height of land between Hudson's

IT r^'i^n' ."• 'l"'' "^''^^ 'P"'" °f '''■^•' '"■«' prodoc...d therein >
r r H. ■~^^" ^ i"' " the distance of the sources of the River St. Maurice,
or the Black River as ,t is sometimes called, and the sources of the
Gatineau River from the sources of the Rivers that empty into Lake
ht. John describe particularly the appearance of the Country, and the
.ources of these and ot any other Rivers which take their rise therein.
as well from your own observation as from information upon which voj
can depeiid r ■'

7th _Q. Is it practicable to ascend the Saguenay in Indian Canoes
pass ihrough Lake St John ascend one of the streams which fHlTinto
It, and after any, and what portages descend the St. Maurice at Three-
Rivers; and has this Route been practised for any and what lenirth of
time and by whom, and what are .he difficulties.* obstructions of dan-
gers to be encountered upon the said Route, and are there any Tradinrr

and whT" ll''.'''^\^"'^ 'f f' how long have they been established,
and what is their number and how situated ?

8th._Q. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Port of
Tddoussac. and when does the navigation of the Gulph from that Port
commence and end. and at what period of time is the Saguenay frozen
over, and when does the ice disappear therefrom ? ^

.»,. r"~?' ^^'""^ ^'f '''^„«"''"^'» vegetable and mineral productions of
the Country commonly called the King's Posts ?

10th _Q What is the quality of the soil and Timber, the climate.

extent of cultivable ground, as well of the Country lying between the

niouth of the Saguenay and Lake Mistassinis, as of the Country lyin^

AU . u r T''^"f ' "'''"■ "' '"""'^' «"d what is the course, depth

and bread-.h of the sa.d River St. Maunce, and are there any and what

obstrucnons to its navigation and what is the nature and description of

hJ r T i°""'^y'y'"S behind the existing settlement,, bounded on

nto th if. \ I ^'S'^'y^l^^^^ St. John.^nd the streams which fall

1 1 ih n ■■ H '' '"1 "; '^' '''^'■' ''"^' ^y '^' ^^'^^ S'- Maurice ?
A ,u":^^n -'"^'^^'^ ^"y* ^"'^ "'^^' means of becoming acquaint,

ed with .he Country which lies with the St. Maurice on one side and
the River Ottawa on the other, and if so are there any and what naviga-
ble streams therein, and how navigable, and for what distance, andtre
there any and what Lakes in the said Tract of Country and what i!

their 8iz.. depth and situation, and dc they produce any and what spe-
ciesot |-i3h, and what H the climate and quality of tlie soil, what 'I'rec*
grow ,n the said Country, of what size, and what are th. vegetable,
animal and mineral productions of the name ?

Tr!?''"V?' x^'" '^'T ""r '" ''" '■'''' '"'^ '^"^'« «f <^«""try any
1 ribes of Indians, and what are their numbers, manners and mfans of

obtaining a hvchliood, and have theirnumbers increased or diminished
since you hrst became actjnaintcd with them, and if , hey have so incxas-
ed, or diminished to wliat cause or causes do you attribute iheir increase
or diminution ? '^" niticaie

I3ih_.Q. Are there any and what Traditions amongst the said In.
fhem r ' '° ^ ' ^"'' ""^^ °^ •'""'"' ^"^ ^" '^'" '^^^-^^ «n'o"i"t

To the foregoing Queftlons the following Answers were tran?
in.tted to the Committee by C/tarhs Tacht, the Elder, of Ka-
mouraska, Esquire. *

1.1 know the River Saguenay, Lake St John, and its vicinity.
as having refided and been in that Country thirty ye trs

2. l^e River Saguenay from TadoufTac at its' mouth as fir as
cape a/o7,,s nearly twenty leagues in length by more than
half a eague in breadth, there it forms on the left a confiderable
J3ay called Ua ha Baj/, and bending northwards it is contracted
to one quarter of a league in breadth, as far as the Fall of the
Grand Portage, which forms a diftance of nearly ten leagues from
Cape fl/V,v/, and thirty leagues from Tadouffac.

3. The Rivers Sle. Marguerite, St. Jean, the lesser Sagvena>u
La Trinjie, Unbou 0,tar,les, Vdlir,, PissaoutkM Onrou-
///»y, and the River of broken Lands, empty themfelv^s into the

vX TTV /''" ^u" S3g"^n»y innavigable for the largeft

VefTels which fail on the Ocean as far as Cap a /V,/, .nd

thence to the great carrying place already mentioned for veflels

of from eighty to one hundred tons. The other Rivers are i„.'

confiderable, they are nearly fuch as the River St. Charles is in

the vicmty of Quebec The Fifh in the Saguenay are the ot

hard a kind of fmali Whale, which never ascends "bove Cape ./

/ « , the Porpoife, Sturgeon, Seal, Salmon, Pike, White Fi(h.

Pickerel and Trout. *

Lake St. John fituate about thirty-f5ve leagues from Chicoutinw

and fixty leagues weft north weft of TadoulTac. is nearly for/y

eagues m circumference. Its outlet forms the Saguenay. Into

this Lake the Rivers Belle Riviere, MetabUchouane, MUahetch^

ouams% Vtatchomne, Unintchouanixh, Chuarnc^u^huant, Midas-

sm and Pachaca empty themfelves. Each of thofe Rivers is na-

-I.
'I?

1 1

vIgsWf f^T larpe Bntteaux for many )MRues, and hrther on for
mrk Lanofs. Lake St. John i'^ navigable lor fmall Veflels of
betw«vf, tlmy and forty Tons, airf abounds in Fifh of variou.
Kinds, a* F>ke, Pickerel, Trout, Aicfnmnisfi, the moft delicious
l«ifh in the wu.M There are alfo Salmon in u. River a /'C>«r*
Which flows mto th( River Chuamou haane.

4. Leaving the Saguenay at Chicoulimy and following the
Kivcr of that name on the left for fevcn leagues Lake Chinouairomu
M reached which is about feven leagues long and more than half
a league wide, navigable for veffels of (ixty or eighty Tons.
Ihere is then a carrying place of about half a league, after which
isa ImallLake called Cimmuacromichiche, of about three leagues,
which has a narrow outlet winding among Alders which connects
It with the Bille Rnidre which is ultimately loft in lake St. John.
A """"'"g '^^ R'^'C*" Chuamoushuane, there are on the right
and left feyeral fmall Lakes, and thirty-five or forty leagues from
JL.ake St. John the River Chigoubicht on th*; left is entered. It
has two branches forming an Angle like that of the Rivers Ri-
chelieu and St. Lawrence. Ascending that River Lake Chigoubi-
«** 18 met, which is about three leagues long, fliallowand feparated
J'. >nly one carrying place from Lake Chuamoushuane the latter
being nearly feven leagues long, ihallow, yet deep enough, as is
a.io the Chigoubtche, to carry large Bateaux. Frcai Lake Chua-^
momhuane to Lake Mutassinis the diftance is nearly fixty leagues.
Un that Route lies Lake Utsisiagomo (vomiting Lake) about thirty
leagues in circumference, full of Islands and abounding in Fifh.
Next IS Lake Uakanatsi (the Lake of Crooked Mountains) about
ten leagues long and three leagues broad, very deep and abound,
ing in Filh. A fingle carrying place feparates it from the great
Lz\s.i: Mtstasums. 1 he latter empties itfelf into Hudfon s Bay by
the^ River Rupert and another outlet.

5. The diuifnfions form and extent of that Lake is not well
known. According to the Report of the Indians it greatly
exceeds Lake Ontario in extent. It is very deep. Pike, White
iMlh and Pickerel of confiderable fize and exquIHte quality are
taken there. There is also a kind of Trout called by the Abori-
gines AjMgoache, which weighs as much as two of our lareeft
oalmon. ^

6. I do not know the fources pf that River. The Country *
fromCapea/<5^oiMhe Saguenay as far as the fources of the
River Saint Maurice r n ^ck from Eaft to Weft of about feventy
or eighty leagues aid - u ortv nr fifty leagues from NortK to
South, IS extremely T?. . '^^rh^ Climate is nearly as good as at
t^uebec, for all tha? J?n.] s.a& a foutherr., Ar^ct gnH itfh^u.r.A^

the

*rom the north wind, and the more Co the near - thj foot ol (h«
chain of Mountains at the lu-ight of the land is approiulied.

7. I am not well acquainted with the route from l.jke C/ma-
moushounne to the fourccs of the River Saint Lawrence. I know
from the Report of the Indians that there is acceij thereto bv
Icveral Rivers and Lakes in large Canoes of four icats. Between
Jadoussac and Lake Lhmmoashitaue there are three tradiii./
Tofts, that is to (^y C/iimufimi, Lake St. John and Ch„„mouslt
Wfl^r, I do not wHl kr.uw how long they have been eftabliihed.

8. lliat Hnrbo'ir IS Iheltcred from almort every wind, it is ve-
ry deep, the ice iorms tliere much later than at Quebec, and
difappe ir much earlier, which is occafioned by the extreme depth
ot the waters which are much more fait than to the Ibuthwards
and by the prevalence of North- Weft winds in fpring and Fall
which drive to the fouth .vards all the broken tee which is formed
at the mouths of freih water Rivers.

9. Caribou, Beaver, Bear, Lynx, Fox, Wolverine, Porcupine.
Otter, Hare, Ground Hog, the Poll (at, the Elk, the animal lall
mentioned has nearly difappearcd-the Timber is white Pine.
Yellow Pine, Red Pine, White Spruce. Red Spruce, Gra^
Spruce, Elm, Black Birch. Maple, Poplar, White Birch, A.h
Lmden, and Cedar— I have never remarked whether there were*
any minerals.

10. What I have to fay on that qucftion is anfwered in the fore-
gomg article.

11. I do not know that part of the Country.

12. There are in the tract of land I have defcribed, Indians
who are called the ]\lu,itu^mth Nation, Their number is ver/
inconfiderable and has diminifiied during the laft thirty years of
my refidence by at leaft one fourth— I have been told that it h is
diminifhed as much more fince my leaving thofe Countries The
occafion of this diminution is in my opinion a want of the animals
which that Nation ufed for their fuftenance. The caufe of the
deftrurtion of thofe animals is of very remote date. 'Ihe com-
pany , , i]yi Indies which had an exclufive right to the trade ha-
ving greatly enhanced the value of Elk Skins which then aboun.
ded m that Country, induced the ^'ation to deftroy that animal
merely for the fake of his ikin. The avidity natural to the h.;-
man heart and which the lavage and the civilized man alike ex-
perience, induced that improvident nu. ion to deftroy almoll to-
tally the fpecies of animal which fupplied their chief fubfiftence
irom that time the nation has been gradually decreafing.

13. It appears from the Report of the Indians, that the J-f.iifs
wlxo went to Itttle at Lake St- John, in the Reign of Louis XIV

feii

at which time the Montn»nah Nation was in its higheft profpe-
rity, were fix in number— that they had settled there under pre-
text of difFufing chriftianity among the Indians — they only cul-
tivated the foil for the wants of their fettlement. They prevailed
on almoft all the Indians to become Chriftians and had the great-
eft influence over them.

All was well for fome years, but the Company of the Indies
having perceived that the Reverend Fathers, with Rofaries, fmall
crofTes, relics and an abundance of prayers, procured more Furs
and of a quality fuperior to that of thofe 'which the Company could
procure with Merchandife, which they imported at great expenfe
from Europe, fucceeded in fending the Reverend Fathers to fell
their Merchandife elfewhere.

(Signed) CHARLES TACHE', the Elder.

Henri/ Cowant Efquire, Post-Master of Quebec, anfwered as
follows :

, Q What was the original route from Quebec to Halifax via
St. John, and what is the present route j what are the refpective
diftances, and what time did the couriers take to perform the jour-
ney by the old route, and what time do they now take to perform
it by the new route ?

A. The Halifax Mail by the old route via St. John was from
twenty eight to thirty-two days before it was received at Quebec,
it is now received by the way of Frederickton as per Way Bill
herewith in fourteen or eighteen days ; as much depends on the
ftate of the roads, the Courier employed between Quebec and
Frederickton is from nine to eleven days ; between Frederickton
and Halifax five or feven days •, diftance 636^ miles.

WAY BILL FROM HALIFAX T O QUEBEC.

Haste I Haste ! Post Haste !
To the several Couriers on the Route.
You are hereby Ordered to use the utmost diligence in your
respective Stages, to convey in safety, and with the greatest pos-
sible speed, the Mail herewith delivered to you. — You are to
shew this Way Bill to the Post Masters on your route, who
are required to note the day of the month and the exact time of
the day of your arrival at their Offices respectively ; together
wiih the time when the Mail is again by them set in motion, with

the name of the Courier into whose charge it is given : And the
Courier will himself set down the Time of his Arrival at, and
Departure from, any of the places named in this Bill, at which
there is no Post Master — And wherever any unavoidable de-
tention may have happened, it must be noted in the proper co-
himn, and certified by the next Post Master, or by a Magistrate,
or by some credible person residing where the delay happened. —
And hereof you are not to fail.

'^1

By Order of the Deputy Post Master General,

J. HOWE, Junr.

1821

Departure nnd arriviiK,

Date Hour

Thursday
Dec. 20

2. P. M.

10 A. M

10^ Do.
Sh Do.

6 P. 31

7 A. M

2J P. .M

2 P. M

6 A.W

10 P. M

2.3

3 P. M
5 Do.

arrived 30

2P.M

1822
Jany. 7

8 A. M

Stafjes

Despatclie<l tram the Post Ot

fice at Halifax,
At Keys,

Received at Truro,
Left Truro,
At top of Coblaind Mountain,

Ditto, Ditto,

Received at Fort Lawrence,
Left Fort Lawrence,
Dorchester Court House to

Kxchan^e Mails,
Left Ditto,
Coon's Pedicodiack,
At Bl.iekerey's,
Spicer's Sussex Vnle,
At Crumbly, is to be left and

reteiv'd.
Received at Fredericton,
Left Fredericton,
At Nikiwiki River,
.\Jaduxnikik,
Presque Isle,
The Rock Tobique,
Tlie Great Falls,
The Grand River,
Indian Villajje at the mouth

of ^[cldauHlska River,
White Birch River,
Paradis' Mountains,
River dcs C<ij>s,
lliver Quelle,
St, Jean,
llerthier.
lleceivcd at Quebec,

Oist.

in
Miles

Post-Masters and couriei-s

names.

J2
28
38i

24-i
20

24
26
24
24
28
15

30
24
28i

'J!)i
2.3A

'.'A
32 i

2r>|

63CiJ

J. Howe. .Junr. Post blaster,
Samuel Polleys, Courier,

\Vm. Dickson, Post I'tlaster,
AL Sumuiares, Courier,
M. Summares,
.1. VVorden, Courier,
Thomas Roach, Povt Master,
Isaac Gordon, Courier,

Joseph Brannan, Courier,

G. Pit6eld, Courier,

E. Dibbles Courier,

A. Hamilton. Post Master,

A, Martin, Courier,

Hr COWAN, Po-,t-Mgjter.

Ijjlt

!,"(

Edward Isaac Mann, Efquire, appeared before your Commit-
tee and anfwered as follows :

. Q.—Where does the River Saint John take its source, what is
Its ufual diftance from the St. Lawrence, its courfe, breadth and
depth, and how far is it Navigable and for what description of
VelTels or Boats ?

A.— I have never travelled up the River St. John, further than
the fettlement of Madaicaska, but I am informed that it takes its
fource near the River Chaudi^re, and runs thence in a very wind-
ing courfe about eaft to Madawas/ca—its general diftance from the
St. Lawrence is from twelve to fifteen leagues— it is Navigable for
a confiderable diftance above Madawaska for flat bottom'ed boats
of a large description, and for Canoes— it is from one hundred to
one hundred and fifty yards wide.
Q. — Are there any falls in it ?

A.—I believe not of any confequence, I learn that this River
has been lately explored a long diftance above or Weft of Mada-
waskat and that there is a fine traft of level Country on its
Shores, where large quantities of Red and White Pine Timber
have been found, and a great number of Lumber-Men are now
employed in getting out timber, and this induces me to fuppofe
that there exirt no confiderable falls in this River.

Q— Have you any idea what the quality of the Land is which
hes between the River St. John and the Parilhes of Beaumont, St.
Michel and St. Thomas, and what diftance is the River St. John'
in thofe parts fiom the St. Lawrence ? *

A — ^I'he land in thefe parts is reported to be of excellent qua-
lity, the diftance of the St. John from the St. Lawrence, 1 have
already ftated in my anfwer to a former queftion.

Q~To what depth do the old fettlements extend in the tract
lying between Point Levi and Cacona i

A— From three to four leagues in fome places, and not fo far
South in others i .

Q.— At what diftance are the Mountains generally from the
St. Lawrence in that Tract of Country ?

A.— From fix to feven leagues in general, but in fome places
confiderably farther South, say eight or nine leagues.

Q.— What would be the probable diftance of Fredericton from
the St. Lawrence, following a Road traverfing the Mountains at
the moft convenient place, and proceeding as nearly as poflibie in
a ftraight line 'till you reach Frederi«Sl:on ?

A.— .Not underltanding from what part of the St. Lawrence,
this Road is conUemplated to fet off, I cannot form an idea what

will be the probable cliftance, nor llo^v a ftraight Road can be
made from the St. Lawrence to Frederiaon, even fliould it com.
mence fo low down as Gr««rf Mnisy without paffing through a
confiderable tract of land claimed by the United Stated according
to the Treaty of Ghent-In my opinion the only and moft eligi-
tl e Rn H ? 'T^ ^^; United States Territory, would be to run
the Road from Grand MUtSy to the Head of Chalcurs Bay. rtrik-
ing Matapedmc Lake and along its discharge to the Riftigouche.
thence to the Head of (hnburs Bay croffing the River which i'
}nH- n vif^ between this Province, and New-Brunswick at the
Indian Village, and followmg the South Shore of the Bay of
S'JnT.K° *•' ^I^^^7^°f Nrpisiqull, eighteen leagues from
whence there is a ftraight Post Road forty-four miles to Miran.i-
ch,, and from thence to Frederia:,n.-r;;w/ Mitis, is fixtv one
leagues d.ftant from Quebec, thence the Road requires to be made
as tar as the above Indian Village in this Province, a diftance of
about .'0 or 100 miles, which has been carefully explored in the
winter of 1821 and 1822 and fairly afcertained'to be fusceptible
ot a good Road— The lands on the Route between the Indian Vil-
age and NepifiquU, z diftance of twenty leagues, are mortly all
lettled and a good Road will foon be completed thro' that fettlc-
ment by the Inhabitants.

Q— What would be the probable Expenfe of fuch a Road,
making it in a fufficient, but leaft expenfive manner ?
A ^^"""n'rU^ of opinion that a Road of twelve feet wide cuttinc
down all Trees that hang towards the Road and are liable to fall
into it, whatever the diftance may be, particularly spruce and fir,
for a diftance of thirty feet at each fide, might be made throi.Rh
that tract for from ten to twelve Pounds a mile, exclufxve ofbiid-
ging, ditching and caufewaying.

.u S;r)^^" '^^^'! ^""^'^ "^''^ "^^'^ ^y '^^^ courier in conveying
the Mail from Quebec to Frederiaon .? Describe the Route that
has been and is now ufed particularlv .-'

A.— Not having had occafion to travel on that Route and the
conveyance of the Mail between Quebec and Halifax, having been
lately altered, I cannot give any correct idea on this fubiea, but
refer to the Poft Mafter here who doubtless can give the required
information. ^

r. S"~^y^^' ^° y°" conceive is the diftance between Quebec and
irederifton, as travelled by the Courier by the prefcnt Route '

A.— Not having travelled from Frcderifton to Madaicasha, I
have no recollection of the diftance between thefe two places, b'ut

&1.

ill

■fii

from th. latter to Quebec is about fixty-five leagues, and the Poft
iviait. r Here on inform as to the remaining diftance.
JniiT"'''^ l'^^^ any time and when explored the Country, ly-
ing between the Great Falls of St. John and the old fettlements
ontheSouth fhore of.heSt. Lawrence at or near KamouSskl!
7" /'' ^° '" '^® ^'"^*^*" °^ '^^7 and 1788, and fubfe-

quenily feven or eight times, but only as a Common Traveller
from Riftigouche to Quebec, ftriking the St. John a few miles
above the Great-falls, thence across Tcnmcovatu Lake and the
Portage, out to the Parilh St. Andre, on the South Ihore of the
£>t. Lawrence, about thirty eight leagues below Quebec.

P ^nr"?'^,-^°" ^'f ^'''P'°''^ ^^"^ Country lying be'tween the
rarifli of Mttison the St. Lawrence, and the head of the Bale of
Uialcur, and if fo at what time and upon what occafion ?

A— I had this Route explored in the months of December and
January of the years 1821 and J 822 as one of the Commiffioners for
tne Internal Communications of the Inferior Diftrict of Gaspe, for
the express purpofe of ascertaining a Route of Communication bet-
ween the Parifh of Little Milis, fituate about fixty-four leagues
below Quebec on the South fhore of the St. Lawrence, and the
J^nn^c / °/ ^^"^'"''* 3S was contemplated by a Grant of
Jt 1000 from the Legiflature of this Province, to open a Road bet-
ween thefe two points, a diftance of about one hundred miles

Q.^State particularly the Expenfe of the faid explorine. the
numberof men,& the time employed & generall^he circumftan-
ces and manner of it, and the practical refults to which vou came ?
A.— As one of the Commiffioners for the Internal Communi-
cations of the Inferior Diftria of Gaspe in December 1821. I
fitted out a well chofen party of four white men and two Indians,
who were employed in exploring the before mentioned Tract
during the period of thirty-lix days, which with the Report of
rtieirproceedmgs 5 together with a Map and description of the •
Iract of Country they explored coft one hundred and fixty-three
Pounds, a Copy of which Report and description being volumin-
ous, I herewith fubmit, as alfo the above mentioned Map for fur-
ther particulars. ^

Q— What is the moft convenient, effectual, and leafl Expen-
five mode of exploring a New Country, with a view of making a
Road through it, giving the details of the number of perfons to be
employed, the time that the exploring would take, the circum-
Itances which might fliorten or lengthen that time, and the Ex-
pen les per day ?

^ A — This queftion can only be answered as it merits, when the
importance, extent and description of the Road is known ; la- for

id the Poft

iintry, ly.
ettlements
tnouraska.
and fubfe-
Traveller
few miles
:e and the
ore of the

ween the
e Bate of
?

mber and
loners for
iaspe, for
ation bet-
ir leagues

and the
Grant of
Road bet-
tiles.

'ring, the
cumftan-
>u came ?
ommuni-

1821, I
Indians,
id Tract
leport of
1 of the •
cty-three
I'olumin-
) for fur-

Expen-
aklng a
ns to be
circum-
the Ex-

tien the
; hj for

a Road of importance every pofiible caution and exertion IhoulJ
be clofely attended to in laying it out with the utmoll care and
difinterefted prudence, which unfortunately has been too little at-
tended to lately in this Province, if Public Repn-ts speak true. In
my opinion the perfon employed in fuch duty fhould be well paid
& of unexceptionable znCi. dlfmterejied character, who adling on the

latter principle might fave a great deal although will paid For a

Road of importance, nine or ten men would be neceflfary, fay three
Surveyors at 15s. each per day, one of whom to proceed on the
direct line through the tract of Country where the Road is con-
templated to run, the two others cruifing in a half circular directi-
on on each fide of the Itraight line propofed, to meet every one, two
or three days the Surveyor on the llraight line as circumrtances
may require, and there compare and form their obfervations. The
Surveyor who proceeds on the ftraight line fhould be accompanied
by three trufty men to blaze the Trees on the track he purfues,
in fuch way that his Route may be eafily found by thofe who may
follow him i the two other Surveyors cruifing as above fhould
each be accompanied by one man, and two men may be required
to transport provifions &c. on the ftraight line, thefe men accom-
panying the Surveyors may be employed at 3s. per day, or pro-
bably less and the party may be expefted to proceed fo as to carry
the ftraight hne at the rate of about three miles per day, making
allowance for ufual tracts of rough Country and bad weather, and
at the Expenfe of about j£3 6 befides the ufual Rations fay 2s.
per day, for each man will bring the total coft of Survey about
29s. per mile.

Report referred to in the foregoing Exsmination.

Remarks respecijng the District of Gasp^ relative to a Communication
from the Bay of Chaleurs to the River Saint Lawrence.

Having in 1819 visited the District" of Gaspe in the capacity of Sur-
veyor to the Commission for settling the Land Claims of the Inhabitdnts
of that District, it enables me now to offer a few general oLsetvations as
respects its local situation and its relative advantages.

Gasp6 may be esteemed among the most eligible situations for cam-
merce in British America, from its numerous Harbours, wherein Vessels of
any burden can lie in perfect security ; two in particular deserve to hi
mentioned, the south-west arm of Uaspc Bay and the Bay of Risii-
gouche, which aSbrd good Anchorage and an easy resort for vessels du>
ring the most violent tempests, which prevail in the Gulph at certain sea-
sons of the year, aad that District, from its peculiar situation as a peaintula

\0 A

)|'

being bounded by the County of CornvvalUs and the River St. LaiVrent*
on he north, the Gulph of St. Lawrence on the east, the Bayof Chaleur

""l/^'^'T''fv'"^'^''''^r" "•^ P-vinceof New Brunswick on th^
south, and the D.atr.ct of Qucbtc on the west, which is either by a line
due north from the north-west angle of New-Brunswick, formed by the
intersection of the Boundary Line between the United States and Hi.
Britannic Majesty's 1 erntories, to the southern limits of the County of
Cornwalhs or occupying the whole space of country parallel to the said
county to the MaHawa:ka River, is rendered susceptible from the intrin-
8ic worth of Its soil, the natural wealth derived from it,, abundant and va-
luable Timber and its extensive Fisheries, of becoming at no very distant
period, by due regard to the effectual means of ameliorating the state
of the country, and stimulating the rising population to agricultural
pursuits, a District not inferior to any in Canada.

The land in general, which is of an excellent quality, abounds with a
variety of Timber, as Maple, Beech, Birch. Spruce, &c. &c. and al-
most inexhaustible Pineries, which together with the Cod and Salmon
l-iaheiies form the staple commodities for exportation. The whole Dis-
trict is remarkably well watered with numerous Streams which take their
rise in the mountains that bound the River St. Lawrence, and thert
flowing in various directions to the Bay of Chaleurs. the Gulph and Ri-
ver St. Lawrence abounding with various kinds of Fish, and mostly all
traversing tracts of land clothed with immense Pineries. But notwith-
standing those real advantages in the richness of its soil. &c. the
Distiict of Gasp6 compared with its neighbouring Province, on the
opposite side of the Bay of Chaleur, is obviously backward as respects
Agriculture, an object which ultimately forms the permanent wealth of
a country when us other resources are exhausted. This tardiness
may in some measure be attributed to the extensive Fisheries and Lumber
Trade, which form the chief occupation of its Inhabitants, who in
the anticipation of wages ait loath to apply themselves to tilling a few
acres of ground, that might when wearied of the Axe and Line afford
them a peaceable retreat. Thus a valuable tract of country is left in
almost a state of native barrenness, b^-reaved of its wealth by benefiting
some individuals, without its reaping an adequate return.

But I suspect another cause which has sensibly conspired unfavoura-
bly to agriculture, besides the uneasiness which must have prevailed in
the minds of the Inhabitants respecting their Land Claims ; and that is,
the deficiency under which it actually labors of efficient Roads between
the several parts of the District, and one main Road to the Capital.
Nothing can militate more against the progressive improvement or settle-
ment of any new country, as well as operate against an object so de-
sirable 33 agriculture, than this defect, whilst on tlie other hand no great.
er and more effectual stimulus can be given to industry, than the opening
of a new Road, so gratifying to Settlers, being enabled by these means
of lending or receiving assistance, or communi<;ating with their more dis-
tant neighbours.

_ The District of Gaspc thus destitute of so important a land commu-
B.eation w.th Quebec, a water communication is generally practised,
thereby exposed to the many casualties attendant upon a sea voyage, and
a dangerous and iron bound shore, along which on leaving Gasp! Bay!
in case of great stress of weaiher it is almost impossible to find a safe
Harbor, .f we except Capr Chat, which however must be approached
with the greatest precaution, or be exposed to imminent danger. There is
also an inland communication up the River Ristigouche to a small Portage

tll^MT '^T"'"', ^''"^^^ '''''^'' ^''^ G'^"d ^^'"^ down the same
Xo^.Mada'waska settlement on the River St. John, thence proceeds to

.u 1"""^°"^'^'. «"d along the Portage Road, about thirteen leagues
R[v7des*cTp3."'''"°"' '"'^ '''"'" ^'""'"'^ '° '^' ^'' ■^«"'^«"" «*

On examining the most correct Maps of that part of the Countrv
under consideration it will be found that an easy and praticable RouTe'
could be established, and the shortest to the River St. Lawrence ^Zl
the River and Lake MatafeJia to the head thereof, whence a PoraJ
fmm twenty to twenty one miles in length, which lieTtho gha uS
vated country, leads to the River St. Lawrence a few miles below M
Macmder 8 Establishment in his Seigniory of Mitis. whence the Zfto
f'T^Au' along the beach, yet praticable for wheel carriages, much
of^'tStdi^i;'::,.^^'"' ^'^^-^ having .een cut across at th^e e'xpTct

The Commissioners having agreed upon returning by that communi-
cation to Quebec, u afforded me the means of making\ome Tmark
which may. combined to other useful information, comribute fo Xe a

could be carried into effect, as connecting under various considerations
a District which has a most apparently formed a portion not of Lower
Canada, but of the Sister Province of New Brunswick. As I projiei-

. 1?T' ' ''°u^ ''"" ''""''' "^ '^' R'^^" by compass, TnE
mated the d^tance by our rate of going, taking into balance he strong
currents and rapids, which frequently rendered the reckonni g Tan
intricate nature, from wnich I have been enabled to deduce the Plan to
which these remarks are annexed, I also derived much information from
an intelligent Indian who had repeatedly traversed the Country in hU
hunting rambles for the Beaver, the Martin and the Otter. ^

Ihe River Matapidta rises in a spacious Lake at the highlands which
separate the waters running into the River St. Lawrence from those

tTu^ATl^' '^' I''' '^! ''""' '^'^'^ of Mountains now claimed by
the United States as the northern boundary of the District of Maine
from vvhence it traverses in a general S. S. E. h E. course through a
valuable Country, till it disembogues itself in to the'River Ristigouchf J
Its Navigation is free to the Lakes, if we except a few bad rapids which

t!!.rTr\T VT^""*.". •" ^he Spring and Fall Seasons, when from
US great depth of Water it is capable^ of bearing down small Vessels of

ten to twenty Tons with the greatest safety and facility—This hand-
some River in its numerous and extensive branches, waters and enriches a
large tract of excellent Country which are principally the Piscaminean,
inz Cailm'tquagan, the Casupscull and the Humquin Rivers.

From the Mission or Indian Village, the River Ristigouche is much
interrupted by Shoals during the dry Season of the year to Mr. A-

dams's, a neat establishment and the last Settlement in the District

The River forms between those two points a deep Bay, along which are
settled from six to eight families much on the same system as that of
our Canadian Farmers. At Mr. Adams' the Rivers is divided into nu-
merous Channels by Islands, some of which are one to three miles long,

the southern Channel is however the most navigable at all Seasons

On the New Brunswick side flourishing Settlements are to be seen,
which with the small Church of the Mission in the distant perspective,
and the prominent Mountains to the South East, combine to enhance
the beauty of the Landscape. Progressing upwards in a West and by
South course from Mr. Adam's betwixt several Islands, which contract
the Channel about the distance of one mile and a quarter, the River it
interrupted by a considerable rapid, which is however easily surmounted
by the surprising skill ot the Indian in the management of his Canoe, so
peculiar to the tribe which inhabit this part of the Country. At this
place, on the South Shore, there is a good road that runs along the
Bay of Ristigouche, on which are settled upon lots of two hundred acres
each about forty families.

The land which assumes a highland appearance, descends in a gentle
slope to the River and is thus rendered more practicable for a road, and
eligible for settlers.— From this place the River takes a western course

to the mouth of the Matapedla, interspersed with several small Islands

its banks are clothed with mixed Timber, amongst which however

quantities of Pine may be clearly distinguished From the mouth of the

Matapedia to a small Creek on the East side, the land rises gradually
«ito steep and lofty Mountains ; about a mile and a half above this
Creek at a sudden bend the range of hills, which commence at Mr. A-
dam's running from thence in a North East Course, bear a prominent
appearance, the principal Mountain called Pectianook rising fi^om the
River to a height of about three hundred feet— The western shore also
bears a bold aspect which here gives to the waters an apparent tinge of
obscurity. — This mountainous appearance however, is not so prevalent
on the Eastern Shore as we approach the Pucamtneau, a River on which
18 built a Saw Mill appertaining to Messieurs Chamberlain and Rice, it
aitords immense quantities of Pine, which can be floated down to the

Mills with facihty for many miles in the interior of the Country From

this River on both sides of the Matapedia, the land, with little excep-
t«on although Mountainous, is fit for Agriculture to the River Cassi-
maquagan, which discharges itself on the Eastern side, affording at its
entrance a favorabble Site for a Mill and excellent situation for Settlers
It !s I am informed navigable for mmy siilcs and abounds with valuable

Pineries, about two miles above this river as well as two miles above this
again are two handsome and navigable streams which also are lined with
extensive Pmenes.-The Banks of the main River, from the Cassima-
quagan upwards rise boldly, timbered with Maple, Bir;h and Pine
the Kiver IS frequently interrupted by rapids and strong Currents, which
however do not obstruct the Navigation—The Islands are numerous,
some of which are of handsome extent. The soil in general from the
prevalent quality of the timber is of a dark yellow Joam, sometimes con-
sisting of asubordmate bed or stratum of Clay which seems only to ore-
dominate in theValleys and Intervals—From this latter stream to the
Kiver Casupscull the general surface of the land seems to present also
excellent spots for cultivation, as the land commonly descends Lycra-
dual Swells to the banks which are clothed with almost all the varieties
ot limber pecuhar to the growth of that part of the Country. The
i^iver Casupscul/ is the largest which empties itself into the Matabedta.
commg from about a North East direction to its discharge on the Eas-
tern side ; it i% I am informed, navigable for fifty or sixty miles, a, cor-
roborated by a Report of an exploring Survey of that part of the Coun-
try. from tliencethe land is level, in some parts it appears to be swampy
and low intervals until approaching the Lake called Obstchquosqual
where it rises in gentle slopes to the mountains. On entering upon the
l.ake, the eye is much relieved from the sameness existing when proceed-
>ng on the River, by the expansive sheet of vater ; the surrounding
scenery delights at once the beholder from that symmetry in the works of
nature which here seem to be providently bestowed. Tlie land pre-
sents every appearance fit for cultivation, besides the abundance of Sal-
mon, Trout, Pike, Eels and White Fish of a large description, which is
to be found in the Lake. It is about three miles in length by one half,
to a mile in breadth, and contains a great depth of water. From thence
about one mile, there is a handsome stream on the western side about
twenty yards wide, which is said also to be navigable ; thence about half
a mile the River is interrupted by a great Rapid bearing the same name
as the last mentioned River.

TYie Matapedla, from the Lake to the chain of the Ohwantel Likes,
about four miles, IS constantly winding tn a very irregular manner, and is
more frequently impeded by Rapids ; this chain of small Lakes afford,
many delightful seats for cultivation, from the excellence of the soil and
timber, and the advantages of the Lakes, some of which are one mile by
one half in breadth. '

On leaving these small Lakes we enter upon Lake Matabedia, which
may be estimated from fifteen to sixteen miles in length, and not upwards
of a league in its greatest breadth. A charming combination of scenery
18 here afforded, the face of the country is felevated and bold, composed
of a succession of hills rising from the waters and terminating to the
view by distant ridges to the northward ; the centre of the Lake is di-
versified by a cluster of Islands, which, with the extensive 8urf=.r,. of

C 4 -

waters, the projecting points of tl.c Lake, and the grandeur of tlie sur-
rounding scenery, attracts the attention of the traveller. The land on
either side of the Lake conRists <,f Pine, Birch. Beech. Maple and a va-
nety of other 1 rees. The Western shore would appear somewhat more
level as the mounta.ns recede from the Lake in about a south-west course.
Besides the cluster of Island., there arc three or four other Islands most-
ly dispersed along the eastern shore. There arc on that side of the
X^ake a few small streams, one in particular called iVaganus, which com.
rnunicates by portage with some branches of River Matane. On the
yvestern shore there are also one or two streams which water the inte-
rior or the country.

This Lake, with a league in depth around it, was granted under the
Feudal system in May ](;9I, to Nicolas Joseph Damour, and now ap-

perta.n,ng to Grant, Esquire and others :_It is a valuable

trac of country, and would doubtless become by due encouragement to
Settlers a flourishmg part of Canada, as the Lake with other advantages,
possesses abundance of Salmon, Trout and White Fish.

Un the whole, 1 have remarked, it is navigable for Rafts of all kinds
11?^Z\ ''"'' "'!'"'' J^^" ^'"^' °^ ^^*« "°ble River are in various
K I f ^ ''"'"■^'^' T}''' ^'P'*^* '■" ^"""^ P'a«« "f the k.ver, al-
Hown% °f "'^g"'!"'^^' w'"c»use no injury or impediment ro Rafts going
down to the Rist.gouche, while Canoes can ply during upwards of tevea
months between the Portage and the Indian Villagf. The count^^
n the greatest part wild and barren, the soil and limber are however cf
if »K A^ ^'^;. ^*»«.««ne8 which present {hemselves along the shot,
ot the Matapedm are m some places of a roa.antic c-escription, and in
SD c^ro'r ^T—^ P>cturesque. that they cannot fail to interest the
spectator. It is in many places diversified with numerous Islands and
handsome windings, sometimes its waters are contracted between stupen-
dous mountains, at others they are expanded to a great extent between a
nne open country,

pZ'"'*!?""/^'' '''^"'^ communicates from the bead of the Lake to the
Kiver bt. Lawrence, is traversed by one or two prominent ridges of
Mountains ; the one near to the Lake called Les Montagna de NoZ
jJcm, commands a view of the whole Country to the Southward which

af?uThVir''"'^'''"W""' ^"L many mL.-The other is sitSe
about half way across the Portage between the Rivers Tucthoo and Tuc

whT/hK 'J"u c'J'" *''^^'"'^' ="^ '^' '"°« remarkable are those
which bound the St. Lawrence. The land throughout the Portage is com-
monly good for cultivation, with the exception of a few spots ?f Swamp
and a few steep Mountains, which however could be easily obviated bv
making a circuit of the Mountains or causewaying the swampy portions.
IXT^ P 't^'r^' 'he P-t«ge, which is at present merely an irre-
gular Indian Path, I would refer to Mr. Mann from whom the principal
information can be derived, as well as the corroborative report of the
explorers who traced the Country from the Mission to the River St!

JSTpon "''"'•• ^--''^"-^iJencewith „,y Notes, can doubtlc be

It will be perceived xvhat would be the probable advantaees of the
road of communication alonir a navigable river -,n,l rl.rl,, i ^

ablv tl 'l 'l "r !, """r r '''"" ' ■"■■ ""'I'" Cumry CO d be Imfo-'

S»drr:,d^b:t'trrr:r;r^
»e;"L;';,i^%f Tools' " *•■;■ "J"'"'' i^-i"-i>"-^

■R,„ .u ^ *S procured across to the opposte side of ihi»

S?^; ''''-•"« Foceed on a very good road .o M^u^W/^wh re fsi ike!
off towards Miramich. River, and meets the road^.o H lifax

I would finally observe, that these Notes have chiefly been taken on
the spot, besides .nformation I have since acquired from Mr Ma„n " h«
hasrepeatedly travelled the Country at differlt Scasors by the votn!

cIsIhT"".'""""';.^"""'"'""'''' ''^ Matapedla. which here I have
classed together to be annexed to th^ l^i^ f "'^'t i ere i nave

which ma/ give an idea oHh s p„.t of C.ulrvVnd''^'"^^ ""^'
(Signed) JOSEPH BOUCF

Quebec, i6th l>ecr. 1822.

'TTE, Junr.
D. P. S.

Mr. jyin. //a// of the City of Quebec, appeared, and made answer

the followin

g question

Q — What in your opinion are the Causes, which have prevented the
thelloads from being made in the Townships, and what are the disad-
vantages under which grantees and actual Setllcra labour ?

A. The (Causes why Roads are not made, under the act of the last Ses-
sion of tlic Provincial Parh'ament, " for making Roada through thegrant-
•• ed F^nds in the Townships," and the many grievances that Indivi-
duals labour under, can be proved witliout any difficulty.

The provincial Legislature ought to prevent foreigners fron' coming
Into the Country and taking possession of the uncultivated L^nds against
the will of the owners. — These people settle on those Lands, cut down

the best timber, erect small Log houses and clear perhaps a few acres

this ihey call improvement — but in the course of a few years the most
wluable limber is destroyed and the Lai \ is worth less than it was in a
•tate of nature, and if the owner wishes to dispose of this Land or even
to settle a friend or a relation on it, he is deprived of his own property,
unless he begins an expensive Law auit with the settlers of this kind,
who are here called Squatters, which the great distance from Courts of
Justice renders almost impracticable. Even should the owner succeed
"in expelling these people, in that case before leaving it they burn and de-
stroy the Buildings, and the property is then worth leas perhaps than the
Costs of suit.

These Squatters after leaying the Land, immediately commence depre-
dations on another Spot. — They are mostly people from the United
States, and in the event of a war with that Country would all quit these
Lands ; they are therefore bad subjects and not to be relied upon, not-
Utrithstanding which they receive the same protection from our Laws du-
ring their residence in this Country as good subjects receive.

Any Legislative measures which could be adopted to prevent these
encroachments in future, or to dislodge the Squatter with less Expencc
would encrcase the value of Lands in this Country, and enable better and
litter men to establish themselves thereon — These Squatters are chiefly
of that description of people who abandon their Country, being
Vagrants, through dread of the State Prison.

I shall now proceed to particular Roads.

Craig's Road. — In 1805, I paid out of my own pocket jflSO, to as-
sist in opening that Road— the first opening of this Road was made by
subscription — Sir J. H. Craig then made a further opening as far as
River St. Francis— afterwards the Commissioners for internal Commu-
nications for the Di&trict of Three Rivers, spent a considerable Sum of
Money on this Road and opened it as far as the back part of Sliipton.
The Commissioners for internal Communications for the County of Dor-
chester made this Road to the District Line of Three-Rivers on two
points, got the same verhalizi by the Grand-Voyer, and requeued
Commissioners for the District of Three- Rirers, to

tneet ti:at

t»

one or both points, so that the people of the Eastern Townships m\zht
have a direct Communication with Quebec.

Mr. Rugght IVnght, appeared before your Committe e and answered
as tullows :

Q. Have you had any and what means of Icnowing the quality of the
soil and the climate of the tract of country Jving between the St. Mau-
cultimed » '^ ' "'^ '^"^ '" ^^^ "'** Country susceptible of being

A. I have travelled over part of the lands in question, and have found
as well from my own personal experience as by information obtained
from the Indians, that there exists a very great similiarity throughout: I
am of opinion that these lands are susceptible of being cultivated to ad-
vantage in a variety of ways, and are highly to be recommended for
grazing —The ridgen capable of affording the richest feed for horned
cattle, sheep, &c. and the vallies being composed of rich soils would be
productive of hay, wheat, pease and oats in great abundance, the climate
on the St. Maurice is similar to that of Quebec, and is more favourable c-
approaching the Ottawa River, being nearly a south-west cou.se.

Q. In what manner have the Crown and Clergy Reserves been distri-
buted throughout the Townships ?

A. The Crown and Clergy Reserves on the north side of the Ottawa
Rtver have been distributed generally by cotrmcncing with a Reserve,
/^ wu ''^"''^" ^"'^ '" °"' throughont the whole Townjhip.

Q. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the said distribution ?
A. In my opinion there are no advantages whatever, but on the con-
trary very great disadvantages to the settler in such a distribution (as al-
luded to in my second answer.)-.Ist. The Reserves generally remain
wholly uncultivated for many years, the wood growing thereon shades a
considerable portion of the adjoining cultivated lot, much to the detriment
ot its settler, and serves as a harbour for beasts of prey destructive to
the crop.-_2ndly. No provision whatever being made to obtain roads
through the Reserves, except by the labour which can be afforded by
the settlers, who have quite enough at home to occupy their attentioo
during our short season, and— 3dly. The want of settlers upon these
Keserves creates a heavy tax on the industrious settler adjoining, who is
obliged to make the whole of the fence along the division lines at his
own expense— when the reserves are leased they are commonly occupied
by persons without capital who soon become a nuisance to the settle-
ment— and the short term for which the leases are granted prevents ca-
pitalists or industrious men from applying for them, fearful that at the
close of the lease their improvements may be taxed by an enhancement
of the rents.

Q. How could these lands be most advantageously distributed for
the settlers in the said Townships ?

A. By placing the Reserves in a block, vizt ;— The Crown Reservet

in the north east corner and the Clergy Reserves in the north west
corner of a Township, and in the adjoining Township reserve them so
that the Crown and Clergy reserves may remain in separate blocks.

Q. What are the inconveniences to which the settlers in new Town-
ships are most liable— What is the most convenient season of the year
for commencing a new settlement, pointing out the conveniences and in-
conveniences of each particular season in this respect. What is the
smallest capital with which an industrious settler with his family may
commence a settlement in a new country with any prospect of success i
A. Ist. The want of a convenient and cheap legal modeofestab.
lishing roads and compelling the inhabitants to labour thereon. The
Grand^Voyer residing some distance from the Townships which incurs a
ve ty heavy expense and great inconvenience to the inhabitants to trans-
port him to the place where the road is required, and from the want of
knowledge by the Grand-Voyer and his deputies of the Chart du Payi
they frequently trust to the information obtained from some self inter-
ested person, whereby roads are established not only without advantage,
but which operate to the prejudice of the settlement, and are homologa-
ted m consequence of the distance the inhabitants are placed from the
Court, which prevents their making any opposition.— 2ndly. The want
of small Courts m the Townships— 3dly. The want of Register Offi-
ces which causes a mistrust by the purchaser of lands and of course re-
duces their value from the uncertainty of title8.^4thly. The present
distribution of the Crown and Clergy Reserves.— 5thly. The season for
commencing on new lands must depend upon the capital of the settler ;
I would advise a man possessing a small capital to commence about the
first of September, as he would then have sufficient time before the win-
ter to build a house, cut the underbrush and small timber on a few acres
of land ; during the winter the large timber can be cut and all the brush
piled ready to burn in the following spring and enable him to receive
gram, potatoes and turnips sufficient to support his family during the
ensuing year.— And 6thly. The amount of the capital would much de-
pend upon the capability of a man as to strength and activity, as well as
the circumstances of his family whether males or females, young or old,
arid at what distance from a settlement he would be obliged to transport
his effects, provisions, &c.

Q. In the absence of capital in the first instance, by what application
of his industry and in what time can he most readily obtain sufficient
means to effect a clearing and setlk-ment \

A. I have known Emigrants who were destitute of capital that tv
labouring a short time for others acquired sufficient provisions to support
themselves during a few months and establish themselves comfortably in
thecourseofthree or four years, having cleared from twenty to thirty
acres of land, and acquired a cow and a yoke of oxen, but all depends
upon capability and industry.
Q. Have you had an opportunity of observing the Emigrants from

Great Britain and Ireland, in what time do they usually acquire a know-
ledge of the use of the axe, and what are the obstacles which settlements
a ttempted to be made by them have encountered and how could thev
be best surmounted. '

A. r have observed many Emigrants from Great Britain and Ireland
acqinre a perfect knowledge of the axe in five or sijc months, the greatest
difficulty .3 to acquire a knowledge of the mode of clearing new lands to
advantage-It IS a difficult art and requires much experience, this on
a general scale might be in some measure overcome by settling experien-
ced men promiscuously and from whose examples the Emigrants would
soon iearn, or otherwise employ a man in each township who has a per-
fect knowledge of the proper method, to give instructions to settler*.
Which in a short time would render them expert in the task.

fron^

John Neihon, Estjuirr, a Member of this House made
answer to the following Questions.

rnS .?^'^ T" ^'^ ^7 experience in laying out and making
roads through wild lands, and if so, will you inform the Com-
mittee of what you think the heft and cheapest plan for opening
roads through such lands ? ^ ^

A. I have had some experience of the kind at Valcartier.
Where I personally superintended the opening of a road throueh

he woods of nearly three miles in length from St. Ambroise 1o
tfte Kiver Jacques Cartier ; I have also had several other roads
made m that quarter ; last fall I had a very good Cart Road,
through the bush made for 10s per Arpent, or about £13 lOs
per mile. If I intended to get a new Road laid out and made *
to effect a first settlement at a distance in th -^jods, I should
proceed m the following manner.

The first step to be taken would be to employ three trusty In-'
dians, or others accustomed to the Woods and Country work by
the day, to explore and mark out the easiest and nearest place for
a road, avoiding steep Hills and Morasses, by which a Common
Worse and Cart might transport, say five Cwt. without unload-
mg. It the Road is not well laid out by men who know what
« IS to drive a Horse and loaded Cart in the woods, the labour
and Costs will be endless and perhaps altogether lost. On the
Report of the Indians or others well qualified as above, the road
might be visited and proposals for contracting issued immediately
by posting m public places and notifying by CW^ on a Sunday
atter Divine Service at the Church door.

The Road should be cut twelve french feet wide, and the
whole width cleared off j the ftumps taken out Of cut below the

level of the road and the black earth, or six inches below the ge-
neral surface, the high places to be levelled dovirn and the hol-
lows filled up, so that a Common Horse could travel it in the
wettest seasons with a Cart loaded with five Cwt. at least with-
out unloading.

^^ogging, paving with logs, and draining, where necessary, are of
course included, the price to be so much per Arpent, advance of
one third on furnishing two good securities and commencing the
work, one third when completed, and one third on report of
approval by experts : the time at which the work will be ready
for delivery to be stated : it might be proper perhaps to divide
the whole into numbered lots of thirty arpents, each commen-
cing from the opening of the road, receiving proposals for either of
the numbers.

The manner in which the road is to be made to be carefully
exprefled in the Advertisements, for the price depends upon the
manner in which the work is to be done as well as well as the de-
cision of the Experts : unless a legal road is made at once thirty
six french feet wide, and the Trees cut down half an arpent on
both sides, it is not necessary to make a first cart road in the woods
wider or better than above described, twenty, thirty, forty or
even sixty feet wide would not prevent it being encumbered with
falling Trees, indeed when the Road is wide they are more apt
to fall, and the sun getting in, the brush grows up sooner and
snow drifts form in winter. If a cart road is made, immediately
after it is done, there ought to be a Proces Verbal of it by the
Grand Voyer, determining the manner and by whom it is to be
made and kept up in future.

Q. What do you conceive to be the most advantageous mode of ex-
ploring extensive tracts of wild lands, with a view of ascertaining the
practicability of forming thereon new settlements ?

A. New settlements can only be successfully formed where there is a
certain degree of facility in communicating with the old — the wants of
an agricultural population are so extensive, the means and support that
they require from external sources before they can derive them from the
soil which they occupy, are so considerable, that no successful agricuhu-
tural settlements have ever been made in America without such facility of
communication. The ocean and navigable rivers at first afforded this fa-
cility, the settlements made on the sea shore or on the banks of naviga-
ble rivers having subsequently furnished the external support to the new
settlements in the interior, by n.eans of Roads of communication open-,
ed in the rear of successive settlements. These are only practicable as a
means of communication to a certain distance and where natural circum-
stances are favorable — For the purpose of forming agricultural seltle-
ntents it is not necessarr then to exolore a cauntrv to anv <Tr.>at distan<^>

from existing settlements or navigable waters. No new settlement can
support Itself far from the aforementioned aids. To attempt S II
disadvantageous waste of means which ought to be more usefully em!

It is necessary however to explore a country to a considerable extent
beyond tl^ immediate scite of an intended settlement, in order to asce".

r^r^'' !f ^°T' '•'°'' P'^'P'^'' °f ^"'"--^ prosperity, which in na
small degree depend on its situation in respect to adjacent tracts of land.

The ...habitants of a small tract of the most fertile soil are never so
thrmng as those even of an inferior soil, when surrounded by extensive
racts ot fertile land, particularly if the roads of communication of the lat-
ter to their markets lie thro' the lesser tract.

The general Geographical knowledge of Lower Canada, shewinc th,
existing settlements and the courses of the Rivers towards their mouths

1'1^:T V'f r "^^"'c "P^°""S P^"-"^' °"ght to be employed
with a view to the forming of new settlements. The Surveys of \he
lownships have given much information, and the Topography of the
Country .s we 1 known to its inhabitants, although much of it is in ill
way cf being lost The Indians whose knowledge of this sort exceed!
that of any other description of people are disappearing. The rot^ears
etLoureurs dtbois,^zx%om formerly employed in trading with The In-
d.an3, and who traversed the country in every direction, are nearly ex-
tinct. Ihere are, however in every Parish many persons employetJ
in agriculture, who make long excursions into the rear of the settlement,
at certam periods of the year for the purpose of hunting and fishinff.
froni whom much information might be had of the nature of the CooS*
try m different directions, and of great utility tor forming a judiciou,
b 'ed ^ ' " ^''P^°""^ P'"'" "'g^' ^« advantageously em-

Heavy expenses attending those parties and useless attempts ought to
be carefully avoided.— Where the expenses are permitted to be hi|h. tho
undertaking becomes a job for senseless and useless persons, and at th.,so
expenses must be borne by the public, an outcry is soon raised whicU
puts a stop to almost every useful undertaking of the kind.

I should conceive that a party consisting of one intelligent person, well
acquainted with the inhabitants and the soil and climate of Lower-Ca-
nada, and able to keep a journal, as manager.

Three Indians who have frequented the tract to be explored and who
are active and sober and of good character.

One Canadian farmer who has made excursions into the country to be
explored. ^

One American farmer who has been accustomed to open new settle-
ments— would be sufficient for exploring any tract adjoining the existing
settlements in Lower Canada that might be thought worth the trouble
and expense.

The entire cost, provisions included would be per diem.

1 Manager - - 15s.
3 Indians Ss. . - 153.

2 Farmers 5a. - - lOs.

408. per diem.

One month would be sufficient for exploring any tract that it would be
desirable to explore at present with a view of opening new settlements,
which would give an entire expense to the public of about sixty pounds.

The manager ought to be able to ascertain pretty correctly the latitude
and longitude of the places where he may happen to be — ^He ought to
keep a journal in which he should insert daily his course and distance
with his observations.

1. On the weather and temperature.

2. On the timber and other productions of the soil.

8. On the face of the country, including of course whether level or
broken or gullied, streams, swamps, mountains, extending at least by his
own observations the daily excertions of his men to a breadth of several
leagues, by daily view (if practicable) from the tops of trees and in
high situations a distance of a great many leagues, particularly noticing
the sortsof timber on the views beyond the excursions of his assistants.

4. On the nature of the soil, mentioning particularly the nature of
tlie lef'ges of stone or rock which may be discovered. The stones
brought down by the rivers and the nature of the substiata along their
banks.

5. On tlie most advantageous route for a road, which ought as much
as pricticable make his own tract.

This tract he ought to lay down on a p^an or sketch of the face of the
Country, shewing every day's march with the distance?, the direction
and apparent course of all streams he may have crossed, their breadth,
current and the character of their waters, and the composition of the soil
through which they pass. It would not be amiss for him to blaze or
mark on the trees his general course.

A great many other things necessary to be done occasionally will
strike any experienced and intelligent manager who may be employed.

From my present information the parts of the country in which ex-
ploring parties might be advantageously employed are as follows— viz :

ON THE NORTH SHORE

1. A Party, by water, to explore the Coast and mouths of the prin-
cipal rivers falling into the St. Lawrence from the Province line to the
Saguenay.

2. The Saguenay from where the Mountains or highlands begin to re-
cede from the River, including Lake St. John and the country about the
mouths of the Rivers falling into that lake, ascending the most navigable
of them to the second fall or series of rapids, so as to get a near view of
the mountains of primitive formation.

the S^Maurt'"'"" ''"'" '^ ^'^ '''' °' *^^ '"-"^^'^ ^°

yt^'ll'chi^an^ ^'''" "^^ ^""-^ ^^ '^^ ^""^ °^ '*'' mountains to the Ri-

5. From the head of the Kxvqt L'achlgan to the Ottawa.

ON THE SOUTH SHORE.

6. A Party by water as on the north shore from MhU to Gaspi, and
Chaleurf Bay and by the Rtstigouche to the St. Lawrence

by^^e^Jile: ^Z^ "^ '^^ '°'" '' '" " ^^^ ^^^ ^«"» -^ ^ack

Frtcl^r^lle'drrlSo^lreJL^^^^^^^ " ^^^ -"'^^^ ^ «'•

Q. What m your opinion are the causes which have prevented

the successofthedifferent attempts which have been made to in
troduce the culture of Hemp in Canada ?

kn^wlS"l^^'^''°*^'^'^* attempts have been made within my

f T?oa^"-'"^"."''f S^^^^'^ °^ ''^^3» ^"'ithe French War
of 1793 ) It consisted chiefly m written and printed recommenda-
tions to the farmers by an Agricultural Society which exifted in
that time in Lower-Can da.

The Second-Was an attempt by the Government at home, ac-
ting with the Colonial Government here to introduce the Culture

r th^L ^°" °^ *^^ ^^' ^^'"''"'^' ^y ^ P^''^°» employed

The Third—Was a fimilar attempt near Montreal Befides
thele attempts there have been the premiums offered by the So-
ciety for the promotion of Arts.

With refpect to the first the Canadians are rather fusplcious of
recommendations to make attempts which in the end are promifed
to be very profitable to thofe that make them— They lay that
they have generally obferved that where profit is to be had
people generally fet to work to obtain it , ".out making much
nolle about it, and particularly without recommending it to others

Ihe Widow or family of Mr. Campbell, who was fern cut by
Government for the Diftrift of Three-Rivers, and Mr. Grec- of
Montreal, could best explain the caufes of the failure of the at-
tempts made by them. They both I believe complained that they
were not fufficiently affifted. '

The premiums offered by the Society of Arts may form an in-
ducement to fome large Proprietors of land, but they can have

:.}■■

1 i.

Jittle influence upon the mass of laboring Proprietors, who Culti-
vate their own Lan Is and depend upon the produce for fubfiftence.

Hemp grows well in Canada and the rind his proved to be
of very good quality. It is a fit firft Crop for all newly cleared
lands of good quality. Thefe generally, are too rich for a Grain
Crop till they have been reduced by a root Crop, which is hard-
ly ever wanted to the extent of the whole of the new clearings-
Hemp alfo anfwers well on all old lands richly manured, and
brought into a State of Garden Culture. The Expenfe and the
quantity of manure for any great extent of it, would be great and
hinder other Culture which is confidered to be indispenfible.

From 1793 to 1816. The price of Wheat in Canada was so
high as to leave no inducement to try any other Article of Culture,
particularly one which is not an Article of food and for which
there was no certain and ready demand.

Wheat which forms the Chief Article of food in the Country re-
quires to be fov/n in quantity fufficient in the event of a bad year,
ftill to enfure a fufficiency of food. All the labour that can be fpared
is generally and may be lafely laid out on its Culture. If the feafon
prove favorable the furplus finds afaleat the farmers' own door.
Hemp does not offer the fame advantages. It might be Cultivated
in fmall patches about the Houfes ; but what is to be done whh it
after it is Cultivated — It may be known how it is to be fown to
produce the best rind —When the two forts are be pulled, how pre-
pared; yet what is to be done with it ? Carry it to the Town ?
Who will buy it ? What price > Take it to the Naval Yard at
Kingflon in Upper-Canada or look out for an Agent ? Carry it
tound the Shops to look for a purchafer and not one to be found ;
who knows the Article or thinks it worth buying ? Yet under
thefe circumftances it is fometLnnes thought wonderful that the
Canadian farmers do not Cultivate Hemp ! The only wonder is
that there ihould be any perfon who can expect, that under fuch
circumftances they will attempt to Cultivate it.

To give them a fair trial, samples of Hemp drefTed as it Is re-
quired, with the price per pound, ought to be fent to every
Marchand in the Country :— Let him fhew the Article and offer
the price in ready money ; if it is a remunerating price, the article
will certainly be produced in abundance. Short printed directions
might alfo be placed with the Marchand j but they mufl be vem/
shott and sutct otherwife better have none, but merely fay to be
Cultivated the fame as flax but only thinner and prepared in the
fame way, to be produced like the fample.

I have been told that in RufTia the whole of the Hemp is grown
In fmai! patches near the Houfes.

♦3

I do not kno\T in what d-itp iV ;» -«„ • i r

S«TC„ o. THE „«ST SETTLEMENT ON THE OTT.W. oa C„«„

RIVER.

To.nfhip of Hun, and anf 05^.0'! ^ St th" 'k
material upon the fubject of nev/ Settlemems thT f.ti
paper was delivered in by him. ^""^'"^nts* t^e following

My Parents were of the County of Kenf Fn„i,«^ j
brought up to the Farming and GrazinfbuS^V^^^
grated to the Province of M^afTachufe t^fn NerEn.h?/^ t^'"
I was born in the year 1760, and there I HvedTn^^^^ ' Z^'''

tJ 1!^ i'""^^^^^"''^^^'* in Canada, to explore th" Conn
borde„„g„p„„bo,h fid« of .hJoxawa :' Sd S '^^'^f?

Scri^""'' r ^"^^^^^r'^ to »"re fome Axemen butViuld not

bo^enng on the Ottawa or Grand River at that time! °""^
Ihis part of the Country has immenfe refources in fineTImh/^..
not only Merchantable but for making Afhes, fuffici^nt to f.^^^'

lels. i'his part of the Country was unknown or nn.hon.i.^ «*

D2 "*^'"'

11^

by the Inhabitants of Montreal, except the North Weft Company
whofe intereft appeared to be to keep the faid Country in the then
unhabited ftate, and confequently not feeling a defire to recom-
mend a Settlement in this part of Canada ; however, not wifliing
to give up my intentions of Eftablifliing a Settlement, I hired
two respectable Men in Maflachufetts, for the purpofe of goi-'g
with rne to the Ottawa or Grand River, and after having viewed
the Country we returned home, and they made a Report to the
Public nearly as follows : —

That they had ascended the Ottawa or Grand River one hundred
and twenty miles from Montreal i the firft forty-five miles they
found fome Settlers who appeared rather inactive as far as related
to their farms, but little done, to what apparently might be done,
towards making themfelves independent Farmers. We however
ascended the Ottawa or Graild River up the Rapids fixteen miles
farther, to the head of the Long Sault, continumg our courfe fixty
four miles farther up the river ; from the head of the Long Sault
to Hull the River is remarkably fmooth and the water ftill and
fufficiently deep to float a Sloop of War : at the laft mentioned
place we propofed to explore the Townftiip back of the River ;
accordingly we fpent twenty days, fay from the 1st to the 20th
October 1799. I Ihould think that we climbed to the top of
one hundred or more trees to view the fltuation of the Country,
which we accomplifhed in the following manner, we cut fmaller
trees in fuch a manner as to fall slanting and lodge in the branches
of thofe large ones, which we ascended until we arrived at the top,
by this means we were enabled to view the Country, and alfo the
timber, and by the timber we were enabled to judge of the na-
ture of the foil which we found to answer our expectations ; and
after having examined well the local fituation of the Townfhip of
Hull, we descended the River and arrived after much fatigue at
Montreal, where we gave a general description of our discoveries
and returned home to MafTachufetts, where after a Report was
made public about the fituation of this part of the Country, I
was enabled to obtain and hire as many rheri as I wanted, in order
to commence the new Settlement.

I immediately hired about twenty-five Men and brought them
with my Mill Irons, Axes, Scythes, Hoes and all other kinds of
Tools I thought moft ufeful and necefl'ary, including fourteen
Horfes and eight Oxen, feven Sleighs and five Families, together
with a number of Barrels of clear Pork, deflitute of bone, of my
own raifing, all of which left Woburn on the fecond of Februa-
ry 1800, and arrived in Montreal on the tenth, and after a fhort;

ftay In Montreal we proceeded on our route for the Townrtilp of
Hull, makmg generally amongft the old Settlements about fifteen
miles, per day for the firft three days owing to our Ho fes anS
Oxen trave Img abreaft, and our Sleighs being wider Than what
s ufual .n th.3 Country j under thefe difficultifs we traveXd he
hree firft days flopping with the l.ahHam thofe three nTghts ^n!
t.l we got to the foot of the Long Sault, which was to fhe end
of any travelled road m that direction in Lower-Canada bet^^
then eighty miles from our deftination. and no road^we found
that u was impof.ble to proceed in confequence of the dep^ of
fnow, and were therefore obliged to make a ftand and fet one part

of the men'^o^''' ^^Vf'"' ^5 " ^^gofingly, andtheother p
ot the men to proceed fprward to cut the road, after makin/the
necefrarypreparatK,ns we proceeded on for the head o? K one
Sault, obfervmg before night come on to fix upon fome fpof
near water to encamp for the night, particularly oWbrvfn^
hat there was no dry trees to fall upon us or our cittle, and I
there was to cut them down. Then we cleared away the ?now
and cut down trees for fire for the whole night, the Women and

S.'ii"th"r"^^"r?^^^'^'^^^^"^ ti^MenwithXket,
round the fire, and the Cattle made faft to the ftanding trees ; in
this fituafon about thirty of us fpent the night, andVmuft fay
that I never faw men more cheerful and happy in my li^" haj
they feemed to be, having no landlord to call upon^s for ou?
expenfes nor to complain of our extravagance) norno dirty

our anl?rrP°"* ^"^V^' .^"^^^ ground Wh belonged J
our ance n Sovereign, obfervipg to take our refrefhment and
prepare fuffic.ent for the day, fo'as to lofe notimeon ooTjourney
when day light appeared, always obferving to keep our Axemen

and the Families in the rear, and n this way we proceeded on
for three or four days, obferving to look out for a g^ood place for
our Camp, until we arrived at the head of the Lonf SauFt From
that place we travelled the whole of the diftance uc^n the k^

l?s M ''"^^ V^% TT^'^ ^P°^ ^^'^h is about fix^y-five Z
les. My guide that I had taken up with me the fall before I was
qui e unacquainted with the ice and likewife the whofeof oil
party, as not one of us had ever travelled up this ice before, our
hree former journies had been by water. We travelled ,m ?he
ice very flow, as we were very much intin^idated for fear of lofing
any of our Cattle, keeping our Axemen forward trying every rod
of ice. The ice being covered with fnow about one foot thick,

fo that it was impoffible to know whether the ice was eood with-
out founding it with the axe.

I cannot pass over this account without giving the particulars
of a Savage, lo called, from whom I received the greateft huma-
nity It IS polTible to express. On our journey up the River on the
firft day we met a Savage and his Wife drawing a Child upon a
little bark fleiirh } they looked at us with aftoniOiment, at feeing
in our habit, manner and cuftom, and more especially at our cat-
tle, they viewed us as if we had come from fome diflant part or
trom the Clouds, they were fo aftonifhed walking round our
teams as we were then halted, and trying to make discourfe with
us concerning the ice ; but not a word could we underftand from
htm. We obierved him point to the wood as if giving directions
to his Squaw to go into the Woods and make herlelf comfortable ;
flie immediately left him and went off into the woods, and he im-
mediately proceeded to the head of our company without the
promifeof fee or reward, with his fmall axe trying the ice evpry
Itep we went, as if he had been the proper g'lide or owner of the
property. We paffed on until we found n.ght coming on, anH
the Banks of the River being fo high, fay about twenty feet, that
It was found impoffible to ascend them with our fleigh^, we then
left our fleighs upon the ice and ascended the Banks of the River
and cleared away thefnow, cut down large trees as ufual to make
a fare, carefully obferving that no ftooping or dead trees could
fall upon us } and after cooking our fupper and getting our regu ar
refreftment we then brought up our bedding and /bread ou.id
the fare and made ourfelves as comfortable as poflible, ha vine
nothing over us but large trees and the Canopy cf the Heavenst
Belore day light in the morning we cooked our breakfaft and pro-
vilions for the d^y, and as foon as day light appeared we were
ready to proceed on our march. I muft obferve that our Indian
behaved with uncommon civility during ihe night taking his re-
gular refVefhments with u«, and proceeded to the head of the com-
pany as he had done the preceding day with uncommon agility.
Ah being under way as foon as day light appeared, we proceeded
on this day as ufual without meeting with any accident, when
night was approaching we did the fame as the n^ght before, and
likewife began our march early in the morning in much the fame
way our Indian taking the lead as before. Owing to the deepness
o^ the fnov^ It took us about fix days in paffing up this River,
about fixty-tour miles, a.rd we all arrived fafe at The Townfhip of
Hull. After fome litrie trouble in cutting the brufh and banks we
ascended the height which is about twenty feet from the water.
Our Savage after he had feen us fafe up the bank and fpevt th^

a^!e ftTxtv * n k^ *'.:' f ?''*"^° ^"'' '^'^ Squaw, having to go
beft 1 '^ I" "'^'" •"' '"^^ "'• O'"- "'^" thanked him in the
^u^zaT h"m ^n'/h'T ' "'^'^ him underftand. and thrTe time,

iof of ti^l i'"fi/'"' 'r^ other bu.ldings for the acconmioda-

of .Kt 'i Tr"',?"''- ""f ')'"!""<' "ieh Too" or ,S
nefled hv niiVe Ti, /- '-'*c' » r'ories, «cc. all beme har-

fore, bemg brought up near the great Lakes uno„ hrf^ a ^''

f -r ;o^? See:? °xf ,s-rl ~^^^^

ttiude me returns in fugar, veniln, &,.P''^^"^^' ^°^ which they
Their Chiefs aflembled together and procured nn P„ i- i t

mssmmm

w«er, and Sir M„ ,oh„ft„„. .,„„i ^ew Vi'l^enU^' iJ:

Indian Department, for through him they received th6ir yearlr
dues from Government.

They could hardly fuppofe their Great Father or other perfons
at Quebec would allow me to cut down their Timber and clear
their Land and deflroy their Sugaries and Hunting Ground
without coufulting them, as they had been in the peaceable and
quiet pofll-flion of thefe Lands for generations paft. I muft confi-
der that th fi: falls and rivers were convenient for them to carry
on their bufinefs, and that their families wanted fupport as well
as mine.

I told them I had got regular documents from their Great Fa-
ther which I had received at Quebec, and alfo orders from Sir
John Johnfon fo to do ; and I had been to my Country, being
five hundred miles dilUncc, and brought all thefe Men and iMate-
rials to carry the bulinefs into effect— and the documents I was
re.iJy to produce when regularly called for, and I had further to
ftat • to them from the mouth of Sir John Johnfon— that if they
injured me or any of my property, to go and make complaints to
him, and I fliould have a renumeration for fuch iryury out of
their yearly dues.

They believed that if I had ftayed at home it would have been
to their intereft as they had great dependance upon that fituation,
it being the chief Hunting Ground, Sugaries and Fiftieries &c.
which was the chief fupport of their families, and they were afraid
of further difficulty that would arife between us, fuch as taking
their Beaver, deftroying their Deer, breaking up their Sugaries
and caufing a deal of trouble ; that I muft know that clearing off
the Foreft was driving back their game, which would totally dil-
lodge them of their former expectat'ons.

I told them they muft be lenfib that the tools and materials
which I had brought were not for hunting or fifliing, but for the
clearing of land, and I fliould endeavor to protect their B avers
and Filhing Ground j but as to the Sugaries, them I muft make
ufe of as the land was a.ready given me. I would obferve further
to them that this eftablifliment would be a great convenience to
them, and was intended fo by their Great Father, to have a Set-
tlement and Mills, in order to fupply them with all their provi-
fions inftead of going to Montreal, which they knew was a dan-
gerous and difficult paflage.

They anfwered— we know the paflage is very difiicult and are
furprifed how you found the way here with all thefe men, Bag-
gage and Cattle. The white people always tell us fair ftories to
drive us back } you tell us that you come here for Farming, and
that you will protect our Beaver Hunts, Fiflieries &c. but we

i^'dHitMherp''""'' '°^'^"^"' ^^^'-^'^^^ -y-g-s

We oblerved that all our Farmers where we come from keep
Hawk, rT ^''°' to protect our Farms, Cuch as killing
Hawks when hey come i,pon our Poultry, the Squirrels that
eat up our Gram m the fields. Bears when' they kill our Hog
and calves, and Wolves when they kill our Sheen. ^

butif I ." ''''^' J^^^ i.^«" ^"y good, if ufed for that purpofe j
but .f you do as other white people have done you will n^ake ufe
of hele Guns for k.lhng our Beaver. Deer, Otter. Muflc-Rats
and Bears, we are afraid you will not be contented upon your
own lands, but w.ll go out a diftance to our ponds and take
our Beaver and then for retaliation if we fl!ould come and

InH^JT ?u'"'^ ^'"''' *'"^ ^'" l^""g on difficulties
and d.fputes. and that wo'nt anfwer. You say our Great Father

LV^!!"^ t .^'3 iettlement for our good, but we are afraid it will
be to our diladvantage mftead of doing us good.

I 'La ^aT ' ^."^ '^"T.^"^ '^'■'" directions to ufe them well and

rn?. . n K° '° ''^^ '"^ '^'^'y ^""•'J g° t° their Sugaries and

hni fi ^'^'"■'"u"'''''l%^'^^*^'^^y ^'^«^^° P"twith! as they
had fin.fted makmg of Sugar, that I would pay cash for them at
• lair price.

^inf^'^'F'"^ *^'' *'''''^'' ^^""^ ^^'«' «"^ accordingly it was
done and the amount was paid, which ^. aider fve pounds, and
they afTuredme, that as I appeared u. oe very honeft and fair
VMth them, they would always be u, by me, aid that they had
one more offer to make me. that if I would give them thirty dol-

haVlhL''T f'^i^P '^t'^''^"' to the Lands.-I told them
that I had offered to fhew tliem all my Titles from their Great
Father and would wi(h to have them produce their Titles, as that
71a '^7t'" T^'^ P'°P'" '"»''« °"^ arrangements refpecting
iZl* ? r ""'f^ T -'"" *^"'" ^"y money on account of the
rLh.^ r Tu 'h^y Foduced to me papers that they had a
nght to them. Fhey obferved to me that they did not make the
arrangements themfelves with the Great Father, but it was made
by their anceftors prior to their doing bufinefs, and they had no
papers to fliew at this time, but that they always fuppofed that

hey had an undoubted right to the Lands from whaf their Fa-
thers had told them, together with the Iflands in the River: as
they had m Montreal given leafes of fome of thofe IQands be-

SmL In ?'"' ^°'V ^"^''*^* particularly an Ifland called
Studders Idand in the Rapids of the Long Sault, about feventy
miles below, and that they were willing we fhould make further
enquiry fe;pettuig me fame, i laid that according to the infor-

mation I had collected from their Fathers at Quebec they had
no pofitive right to any Lands, nor could they hold any title in
their own capacity, and if they had leafed any Lands they had
done wrong, for they knew they received annually prefents from
tlie Government, which were on account of their relinquifhing
all claims to the Lands. They obferved if that was the cafe it was
hard on them, as their annual prefents were but trifling, and
that they would revert to their fuperiors to decide that I fliould
go to Montreal to Sir John Johnfon, Mr. Lee, the CommifTary
of the Indian Department and to Mr. Lukin,— >I agreed to go the
next Moon and their anfwer was to be decifive — I accordingly
went the next moon and Sir John Johnfon told me the Indians had
no right to the Lands for they had their prefents in lieu of Land,
and that they could not hinder me from the lawful pofleifion of
it — I alfo went to Mr. Lee, and he told me the fame. I then
went to Mr. Lukin and a&ed him if he had ever made out the
fatd leafe to Mr. Studders, and he told mt he had done fo : I
afked him if he fuppofed he had any right or authority fo to do,
he obferved that that was more than he could anfwer— he made
it his rule as a Notary Public when two perfons came to him and
asked him to do a piece of writing between them, that he did it
according to their directions, and it was their bufinefs to under-
ftand the propriety or impropriety of the fame. I then returned
home to Hull and made my Report in the following manner to
the Indians— that Sir John Johnfton, Mr. Lee and Mr. Lukin,
had obferved to me that they had no right to the Lands as they
received prefents as a compenfation, and requeued me to obferve
to them that their Great Father expected them to treat me as the
owner of the foil, and not injure any of my property in any way
or manner, and to treat me as their brother and for me to ufe
them in as friendly a manner as circumftances would allow, and
to tell them they muft not leafe any Lands or Iflands, if they did
it would have a tendency to deftroy tfieir yearly prefents. They
anfwered that they had never underftood it in that nature, but
they did not know that they had any reafon to difpute the report
made by me, although it appeared hard to them, and they found
they had not the advantages they thought they had before, and
for the future I ftiould always find them friendly. They then a-
greed that I (hould be a Brother Chief, and if any difficulties
occurred it fhould be fettled by mutual agreement amongft the
Chiefs. Then they proceeded to crown me in their ufual man-
ner as a Brother Chief— then we dined together and kiffed each
others cheeks, and a number of other ceremonies pafled, too nu-
mei ous to mention, fuch as burying the hatchet, and a rxumbec

1 j

jfmS ; "^'^='»J"'^-'"/°'''""^'''"- Since which we have often as.
sembled together m the greateft harmony in both VilLe uoon
various occafions, all which has been with the greateft friendfhip
and good underftanding without having to revert to one q3
for the Lawtodec.de. I muft acknowledge that I never waac"
qu mted w.th any people that more ftrictiy regarded ^^0 and
equity ,hjn .hofe people have for hefe twenty ^ears paft
^n« :?^I'"^- ^'■'•^"ged with the Indians we continued cutting
down and clearing a fpot for the erection of a houfe and we co"-

accoLon";"^ '".'* f'T"S ^"d erecting other buildings for the
accommodation of the families and men

fr.t^' ' ^""^ '"'I'" '•" S''°'^ ^°*='= °f Hay and Grain which I gave
freely unto my Cattle, I was furprifed to find chat they took lo
the woods hvmg upon bro^v^e. fuch as the buds ot fail/n tTnfb ^
?even iLCd"'^ ^^^^ "l"'^ ^^^°"g^ ^'^<^ '"-♦ which was abo
out the fpnng, and I never faw working cattle in fo eood con
dition m the month of June as they werefbemg n fulfi and'

n the ground ; bemg quite the reverfe of Maffachufetts where there

InZ^'u r SP""g °P^"ed much earlier than I ever knew it
m Maflachufetts, which gave us all great encouragement allThe
ToZtd? ""? P'f.^f^d with Countr^y in finding v^eg'at L on^^
forward fo much earlier than they .-ere accuftomed to fee itTwhich
gives hfe to the farmer and is the fupport of Agriculture

to Deput into the Ground m the month of August to expect a
good Crop-Our provifions now began to run (hort and we were

mifs toX° ''^"^^n'^ ^ .^'^^-^ °f-« hundred and twin y
m les, to obtam means of fubsistance until our Crops could be har-
med oT^'^'^'r '"'''"'" A^'^*"^^^ '" ^°'"« meafurethe advtnce-
TnH h m"-^'"'""'?'- Our only communication was by water
entires .!ll"^'"°" °^ '^' ^'"''' particularly the Long Sul w s
entirely unknown to our men, and thofe who understood 7he
manner of gomg up and down the River. rn..M nn" b- H ed^--!
of three Dollars per day-The fwiftness'of theVaVer and 1^^^^^^^^^^^

Channel, being interrupted with large rocks or reefs of Stone
projecting into the River, and the Waters rifing and falling about
fourteen feet on thofe rapids owing to the North Waters or Spring
Jxelhets, being compelled to pass as near the fhore as poffible to
have the benefit of Tow Ropes, renders the Navigation very dif-

. The year 1 800 was spent in clearing land, building, and raising vege-
tables and roots, among the latter was about one thousand bushels of Po-
tatoes, which I put into the ground (to keep them through the winter)
•o deep, that I lost the whole of them by the roc occasioned by the heat
or the ground. '

We pepared some land for the fall wheat, and sowed about seventy
bushels upon seventy statute acres, and prepared about thirty acres for
spring wheat and peas ; also a great deal of time spent in exploring and
going to Montreal for provisions. Seeing my people were going on
well, and comfortable as to provisions, houses, &c. I gave directions how
to proceed until my return.

1801 ; I returned back to Woburn in Massachusetts, and at the same
time carried my men home according to our agreement and paid them
olt, but the greater part of them came back again the same winter, and
by an agreenieni took lands, they finding the lands much better in the
iownsh.p of Hull than in the State of Massachusetts. This spring
we hnishedour spring wheat sowing in the month of March, about thir-
ty acres. I had the second year of my clearing one hundred acres of
the best wheat I ever saw. 1 immediately built a large barn , 36 by 75,
and 18 feet posts, and this barn was not large enough to hold the whole
of my wheat by seven stacks ; I should suppose there were 3000 bushels
atleast ; I measured one acre, and then threshed it out upon the spot,
there ivere forty bushels upon that acre. I also surveyed the Town- and
•hip of Hull this year, commencing upon the second day of July with
ten men, and continued until the ninth day of October and placed 377
square posts, being a Township of 82,429 acres, it being a bad Town,
ship to survey, owing to the Gatineau River running at an angular direc-
tion through the whole of the Township, and not fordable at any place
that we knew of for the space of fifty miles Hp ; this Survey I should
suppose cost me about ^800.

In the autumn I secured all my crops, the crops exceeded every per-
son s expectations that was with me, or any thing we had ever seen or
known in the latitude of 42 degrees, and all without the help of manure,
whrch was the more surprising to those who had been accustomed to go
to IJoston and obtain it at the price of three dollars per load. After
closing our fail work, I then issued a Notification that any person who
wnderstood farming and wished to obtain lands, might be supplied on ap-
plication to mc, on the most advantageous terms, and 1 would lend them
a certain quantity of wheat and other seed, until they could raise a suf-
ficient quantity upon their own farms to repay me. Then the settlement
commenced by several person., in that part of the Township which I waa

•nlitled to, and I commenced building Miils, there being no Mill nearet
than eighty miles of the Township. Before I built my Mills, it cost me
twee as rnuch to get my grain ground, a* it did to raise it : I then built
!k rr u "5^^"'* Mill, which cost me eight hundred pounds and
about five hundred pounds ,n other buildings. I also cleared about one
hundred Acres of Land th.s year, and laid down in grass about the same
quanmy I also received a quantity of Hemp Seed from Commissary J.
W. Clarke ; I sowed it and it did exceedingly well. I then sent a bundle
and gave it to the Hemp Committee, and it was deposited in the Com-
mitiee Room, it measured fourteen feet long, and very fine. I raised
that year eleven parts out of thirteen that was raised in the whole Pro-
Tince of Lower-Canada, according to a Certificate that I received from
the Hemp Committee of Montreal, and another from the Commander in
Chief. I sent two samples of Seed with two bundles of the Hemp and

M.dJ T?'- ° '''' f"''^ °^ ^/''' ^"'^ ^"^'^^^ '" ^«^"^" a Silver
Medal. This is a very fine country for the growth of Hemp, but the n».

son I did not continue to gro«r it .ponalarge scale, was, the expense of
preparing ,t for market ; r . „p peelers charged me one doHar^er day,
or one bushel of wheat, . : being very scarce in the Township If

HiiU. I saved nearly one hundred bushels of Hemp Seed which I wld
Ml Montreal at a fair price. I was obliged to send the Hemp to Halifax
to find a sale for it. I still continue to grow small quantities for my own
use* *

I also built a Hemp Mill, which cost me ^300, which Mill was by

1803, 1 extended my improvements in clearing of lands to about SfJO
acres, generally sowing down to grass the Land that had borne two croos
of corn, in order to obtain a quantity of good Timothy and Clover Hav
for wintering my cattle } this is one of the first points in grazing farm?
I am much surprised the Inhabitants dont sow mor^ grafs seedfit mu.t
be a great disadvantage to them in summering their caftle ; if they were
to clear some new lands, high swells of land, tnd sow it wi^l. grass'^ seed
there ihe grass is sweet and the cattle would go into their oafns fat a,uJ

wouldnot take half the quantity of fodder t! winter t^em, a '"o
by the r ie they "ow follow. ^

1804., ihisyear I commenced building a Blacksmith's shop, which
« large enough for fotir workmen to work in, (it contains four pair «f
bellows which are worked by water) also four forges ; likewise a S lo^
Maker's shop and Taylor's shop, with a large Bake^H^u^e : all thoser..
tablibhments giveempbyment to a great number of workmen. Before
_ established these different branches, I was obliged to go ,o Montreal
for every httle article of Iron work or other things whL I «"d t

Hull Ihe ''"T""'^ '^r' ^'^''''' ^^«"«h^» •■" »he Township "f
Hul ; '^e number of men under my employ was about 75, those lere

\Td Tio"-^ -% ^"'"' -"'"'*=r^^ ^"*""'' '-^^^ and a^Mculturc
-nnd 1 a.=o w«u-Bcn«a a lanneiy for tanning of leather upou a lar^e

f»

icale, and I obtained from New-York a Cylinder for grinding of bark
also by water ; also clear«' a quantity of Land, commenced making
Koads and built several Br ges. *

1805, This year we continued also much in the same course to clear
off Laiids and arranging the new Roads, making provisions for new sett-
lers sowing wheat ; I employed about the same number of men as th.e
year before, and laid down more land for grazing, pastures, &c. I al-
so made a trip to Massachusetts, and procured some valuable Stock and
Grass Seed, and collected arrears of debts due to me.

1806—1 now thought proper to post and make up my Accounts and
«ec what I had expended how much the Inhabitants owed me, as I
had thenexpended twenty thousand Dollars. I had just returned from
Montreal having been down with flour, the expences of this journey had
consumed the whole value of it, as it was conveyed upon Sleighs drawn
by Oxen -nd the Roads b d. As 1 had now been six years in the
Township of Hull and expended my Capital it was time for me to
look out for an Export Market to cover my Imports ; no Export Market
had then been found, as not a stick of Timber had ever been sent f.om
that place down those dangerous Rapids. I then agreed to try to get
wme Timber ready and try it, and accordingly I then set out to examine
the Rapids quite down to the Isle of Montreal. The Habitans who had
been settled there nearly two hundred years, told me it was not pos-
sible for me ever to get Timber to Quebec by the route on the North
side ofthe hie of Montreal, as such a thing never had been done nor
was it possible it ever could be done, I said ! would not believe it until
I had tryed it. I prepared my Rafts for the Spring and came from
n\x\\ down my new discovered Channel for the Quebec Market. From
Hull ve came down all the Rapids of the Long Sault to the Island of
Montreal & ihe River Saint Lawrence ; it was a new thing but a costly
one to me. Being a total stranger to navigating the Rapids, we were
thirty SIX days getting down as our Rafts would often times run aground
and cause us a deal of labour to get them off again, and I had no person
that was acquainted with the Channel ; but having from experience
learnt the manner of coming down we can now oftentimes come down
them in twenty four hours: however after much fatigue and ex-
pence, we arrived at Quebec with the first Timber from that Township
that ever came to Quebec. It can be brought a half penny cheaper to
Quebec than it can to Montreal. This was in the year 1807. Now ia
the year 1823, upwards of three hundred common Cargoes were brought
to Quebec, and not one to Montreal through the same Channel, only
Kventeen years back not cae Cargo of Timber came from the Grand
Kiver, and whoever lives to see seventeen or eighteen years hence wiU no
doubt see four times that quantity, not only of Timber, but Potashes
and 1- lour. Beef, Pork and many other Articles too numerous to men.
tion brought from the same quarter to Quebec.

1808— This Winter I endeavored to obtain employment for my sur-
plus men. The Summer we ar« obliged to employ a number of m^o. and

.55

in the Winter one quarter of that number is sufficient to carry on tl»e
business of the Farm, and in order to find employment for those addi-
tionai or surplus men, I commenced the Lumber business, drawing and
procuring 1 imber for my Mills and sawing them into HUnks and IWd,

u u ^ "°* &"'^" these men employment during the Winter, it
would hare been impossible for me to have obtained men in the Sprin?
when I most wanr.J them, as the distance from any settlement wa. sa
great ; but unfortunately for me on the «th day of May 1808, mv MilU

Flanks &c. whtchweteprepanng for the Quebec Market: I had not a
piece of Boatdleft for my own use without either chopping it with aa
Axe or obtaining u from a distance of eighty mil^, except what
was upon my buildings. This loss was most severely felt, as it was verr
neardestroying the Settlement; there was no inst.rance eifected upoa
my Mills; this loss made me almost despair of ever recoverinir itfor
doing any good upon the Settlement, and I was about to quit it. but my
eons wished me not to despair : it o-as also a great loss to the Settlement
as the grwter part of our corn was in the Mdl and burnt, with the ex.
ception (^f seven bushels of Flour, which was taken from the MUl the
night betore. And to see the distress that was occasioned by this acci-

I'wtTTi" '^'"''"^A ?" "*!"''■« '^'""^^ lying a float was saved.
With which I came to Quebec and returned as soon as possible, and

commenced a new Saw Mill; I set all hands to work I could obtai^
and finished the MtU in sixty days. After so doing 1 commenced a
Grist Mill, which I also finished at the Fall of the year; during this
period 1 was obliged to obtain provisions from Montreal.

1809— This year was spent in much the same routine as the prece-
ding year, except clearing about fifty acres of land, and also having in
my employ about eighty men, some in different mechanical Branches
and others upon the Farm, and in preparing Timber for the Quebec
Market ; I likewise built a number of buddings such as Barns, Stables,

1812-.This year, I let out one hundred acres of woodland to b»
cleared, branded, &c. and made fit for the harrow, for the price or
sum ot fcur pounds per acre : I also built a House in the centre for the
Workmen. I paid twenty five pounds for the Ashes and fifty pounds to
nave It well harrowed and cross harrowed, the whole amounting to the
sum of ^500, which was finished and sown that September with Wheat,
and fenced round : I also employed a number of men in exporting Tim-
ber to Quebec, and also upon the different Farms amountiuff to about
ninety men. ^

1813--This year, T made a Road from the Saw Mill to the last
mentioned house I built, distance about one and a hdf mile, and built
a large Barn (say 40 by 70) eighteen feet post, covered in and com-
plete for receiving my Wheat ; at the time of harvest 1 employed about
rwenty addaiunal men to assist in getting in the hairest, reaping, cart-

V IM

fr:^=**=

;i;^

ii!

ingt &c. which wheat I got in well and in good order. I also made an
ad({ition to this Farm by clearing about eighty acres for the next year's
crop of wheat with my own men laburers* and during the Winter we
threshed ouc our wheat and paid the laborers six &hillings for every ten
bushels for threshing, which they cleaned and brought to the Grist
Mill. At the finishing of threshing of this wheat, we measured three
thousand bushels: these three thousand bushels cost me two thousand
Dollars, for whieh I was offered nine thousand Dollars, three Dollars
per bushel being at that time the commcn price on account of the war.
I must say it was the most advantageous undertaking that I ever en-
gaged in since I commenced the Settlement, having a clear profit of seven
thousand Dollars. I continued to expend upon the Farm. I then com>
menced building sheds adjoining the same Barn upon this same Farm
IC I feet west, 200 feet south, 200 feet east and 100 feet to thebarr.,
making in the whole eight hundred feet of shed. The sheds are eigh-
teen feet in width on the west, and on the south thirty six feet, and
upon the north and east they are eighteen feet wide, eighteen feet high
on the east side in the front of the square, by twelve in the rear with
racks and mangers, the whole of the distance round bound with
iron, the yard also is fenced across for different kind') of Cattle,
besides a number of smaller appartments all sufficient to contain abou '
two hundred head of Cartle, well clap boarded, painted, &c. Upo.i
the outside in this way I keep my Cattle, giving every kind a fair chance
to the air. I likewise built a large Distillery 40 by 80 with every ar-
ticle necessary for this Establishment with a shed of five hundred feet, and
troughs to receive the wash for the benefit of the Cattle, Hogs, &c.

1814.— In the year 1804? I sold one hundred acres of woodland
adjoining this said Farm, at the price of ten Shillings per acre, and in
the year 1814< having occasion to enlarge my Farm, I bought this same
Farm of 100 acres, after the person had held it ten years and cleared
sixty acres and put some buildings thereon and paid him five pounds per
acre. 1 cleared in addition to this purchase 120 acres, seeded dcwn
about the same quantity with red Clover, white Clover and Timotliy ;
and to sow this Land with the above kinds of grass seeds, I take about,
a quart of each kind per acre, this is my general rule. I this year em-
ployed about twenty men upon this Farm ; they were employed mostly
in clearing of Land and building of fences, &c ; and also sowing the
fallows with fall wheat : I also made a new Road through the centre of
this Farm and we arranged the Farm into different Sections or Pastures
for the accommodation of mowing, tillage and pasturage, and also put
upon this Farm an additional number of Cows, so as to make the num*
ber up to forty, besides thirty yoke of Oxen, old and young, twenty
working Horses, besides breeding Mares, Sheep, Goats, Swine, &c.
This Farm up to the present day contains about eight hundred acres of
cleared land, divided into different Divisions for the accommodation of
the diffeient kinds of Cattle. I also built in addition to forn^:- buildings
eix Barns upon this Farm to stow the Hay and Corn, besides ha

vmor a

--0 "

so made an
next year's
Winter we
r every ten

the Grist
ilred three
> thousand
ee Dollars
f the war.

I ever en-
fit of seven

then com-
iame Farm

the barr.>
8 are eigh-

feet, and

1 feet high
rear with

und with
jf Cattle,
tain abou '
c. Upo.j
Fair chance
I every ar-
d feet, and
I, &c.
wood land
:re, and in

this same
ind cleared
}Ounds per
ded dcwn
rimotJiy }
ike about,
i year em-
ed mostly
owing the

centre of
r Pastures
I also put
! the num'
J, twenty
wine, &c.
fd acres of
odation of

buildings
B havina a

i "I

« 22
- u

«
S

ji i j^ i i i ^

S o i^ s 3 Q t:

e £ i ?> * ^ s S22290PS

i__L-i2.iiE£

3 4 < 5 4 12 12 20 130 15 10 5 2 25 20 5

1 223 0^ 20 600200«-:^'j20

3 4 329060 110 12 S52 15 15 So

1 3 002020 20241166^0
OOOOOOO OOOOOOOOo

\ OOOOOO 500000 0.0

2 4 143070 f')5tl0 2111,20lO

2 2 2 222040 20 1 1 4 1 1

3 4 4 025 O 30 15 23113311

OOOOOOO OOOOOOOOO

• 2 3 243090 208 12 63 10 15 20

!2 123060 10 21214610

>3 2 2650 16 2 10 8421)1.5 10 20

!12 101020 521112210

21 3 223040*511006310

a rule to
Lambs,
>le that

mprove

;r, and

d, were

iployed

est of

tumps.

It after

ihle to

taken

a cer-

n eased

'M.upt

]?lthe

n our

intil a

ening

upon

:d for

nder-

fcut-

snow

t and

9 the

rou-
ithe
lince
dred
14S

So.

No.

Xo.

No.

No.
No.

No,

No.
No.

No.

tjm wasthe first bcg&n uKhe cid or o;,""'' "n""'''^ "" ^ateno Farm.l
farm for raising stock upon. Owl„^?„,h^ """''^ R'verand was used as a
fyery 7 year8.%ometini^ ;» aro ni.?i ^ T""^ "■""■" covering it about once
^;«h /and,, as the waters rerainTbou'm 17"' ""' ^1°"^ ""d^Catth^ on ?he f

mis farm was begun bv P. Wriaht o..j • J

f™, «h.!I..upS3S|>;'t » "r *■"■'""". »"'! i. c'.llrf Ills S,.»li,h1

„ ,^^, sja - '■ -sat; a£a;rA-C'/."S^5-i

Farm, and superintended bw C C VVriLl!? ' «"^'sc''"«^the Gateno HcichtT

14-180. ''•;^t^°p."'"'"*"''"'°^«'"«nt- ^ ' """^ •"" ''•*°"' «° acres cut dSf

ii—iS.JS—Ihis Farm was commenced bv Ahiiai, T j ^ I

15-1822 Th™^"' '•' ''"P^''"'^"d"W/FSrt :E^^ 1',^""> ^ock Harbour^
15-1822-- 1 h.s Farm ivas commence .V Thomas BriShJ^*''!!"' ^^""^ '^'eared. f

" »'- -penntendcd by him, anSraCfs ars"o'f deil fan?" ^"""'}

•is

•iVlVj

8 §g ^

funr. and iscalleJ ths Gateno Farm "»
.r Ottawa River and was used as a I

1 to put the Stock and Cattle on the f
days upon this fine meadow. This I

d isnowsiipcrintendod by T. nri^.T
co.eflyn.adeusiofasa^LS|"

MeS' ifA' "1"'"^ Chamberlinl
xviecch, and has about 200 acres off

'"bout ri. "' ""^^ ^''--4

anstrum, and is called the Swedish!
;. 2du^ as a Grazing Form'SZ

fonr-"''".''""^'' Benedict Fnrm.T
50 acres under improvement and is f

Jase, and is called Richards' Farm.1
icrcT of cleared land. ' t

d^^L^rH^ u "'"^'' "'^ Chaudiere'
les Simms, has a good house
and IS used as a Public Stand

SJ If ^ is" ^^ i i ^ ^
,5 n _ffl <S :=• fi '^ s ^ fe }*

s o
•s 's

Li It It

_; u< eq ^ ^ u
•S "S "3 <3 Oh g ^

I § 2 I -S N

diereT
I and (
landf

?eicleS.'''''^"^''"*"™'-4

^rS '""!,'l<^'>"«'d the BuckinfjO
irhand, and has about 2 acres off

(t, and is called Templeton Farm,!
160 acres cleare<l land. f

he, and is called Vallie Farm, and!
:res cleared land. """.anai

>nd has about 60 acres cut down f

lord, and is called Lock Harbour!
1 has about 1 2 acres cleared. r

■ acres of cleared land. j

2 I

1 1

2 1
1 1
1

1
1 1

1 1

350 6 3 4 A ^ .

* * 5 ♦ 12 12 20

130 15 10 5 2 n5 20 5

120 3 1

200 4 3

35 3 1 3

30 1 1 1 Q

80 3 2 4

2 30 8 2 2

1 1

2 1

1 1

1 I

15 2 3 4

60 3 2 3

40 2 2

60 6 3 2

12 2 1 2

12 1 2 1 3

2 2 3 2

* 3 8 9 6
2 2

°
14 3 7

2 2 2 2 4

4 2 5 0. 3

2 4 3 9
12 3 6

2 6 S 016 2

10 10 2
2 2 3 4

60 2
110 12 8 5
20 2 4 1

S
50 8 10 2

020 1

15 2 3 1

4£0 2
2 15 15 3
16 6 2

0.0

1 15 SO 1

1 4 1 1
1 3 3 1 1

20 8 12 6
10 2 1 2

10 8 4. 2

sail

"5110

3 10 15 2

14 6 10

1 15 10 2

12 2 10
6 3 10

ing» &c. t'
addition to
crop of w
threshed c
bushels foi
Mill. At
thousand I
Dollars, f
per bushel

I m«St 631

gagea in si

thousand I

tnenced h\

100 feet w .

making in '

teen feet i

upon the n

on the east

racks and

iron, the

besides a i

two hundri

the outsidf

to the air.

tide necess

troughs to
1814.-

adjoining t

the year If

Farm of

sixty acrei
acre. 1 c!

about the ! '

and to son
a quart of
ployed ab(
in clearing
fallows wit
this Farm
for the ace

upon this Farm an a. ... ., „„ „, ,^ make the num-

ber up to forty, besides thirty yoke of Oxen, old and young, twenty
working Horses, besides breeding Mares, Sheep, Goats, Swine, &c.
This Farm up to the present day contains about eight hundred acres of
cleared land, divided into different Divisions fof the accommodation of
the diffeient kinds of Catile. I also built in addition to former buildines
•ix Barns upon thit Farm to stow the Hay and Corn, besides having a

numher of large ! ay rick., £br some years past. I had made it a rule to
ra.se from thirty to forty Calves upon i hi, Farm, besides Coh>, Lambs.
I'lgs, &c. I have in general about thirty old Pigs and double that
uuoiber of young ones, besides fifty breeding iJheep.
ihu'*l'^"'^"!i'"^' the year 1815 we contmued lo dear and improve
tms farm and employed about twenty men during the Summer, and
aboijt seven during the Winter, the others, which were not wanted, were
employed ... preparing Timber f«,r the Quebec Market ; some employed
n taking out the small stumps and roots, and level the roughest of
the places, as the root^ began to decay according to the s.Be of the stumps.
Beech and rock maple stumps are wi.h much more ease taken out after
the seventh year, Pine, Elm, Basswood and Hemlock are less liable to
rot, and therefore require about fifteen years before they can be taken
out especially those of the largest bizc. tvcry season I a pa: t a cer-
tain number of days, and take from two to six pair of Oxen harnessed
with strong chains which are fastened round the stumps and drawn up.
collected together into Piles and bunu upon the ground, and level the
places from which they were drawn ; this work is done mostly Jn our
mowing and tillage Lands, but those of the largest kind we omir until a
lutiire time, as very year we are obliged to spend some time in openiji^
of ditches for draining the Land, and also being very particular iipoS
iJie-hrst tall of ijnow to sow my grass seed upon the Lands intended for
mowing or pasturage, and also to have a quantity of Wood land under-
brushed, and the underbrush piled for the better accommodation of cut-
ting our firewood, so as to have easy access for the wood, if the snow
should happen to be deep. This Land in the Spring is then burnt and
sowa with Spring Wheat or other Seeds which is a great saving to the

i«16 to 1823 — These years were managed in much the same rou-
tine as the former year. This Farm called the Columbia Farm has in the
whole about 800 acres of land cleared off, from its natural Forest, since
the year 1811 , into tiUage, mowing and pasturage, &c. say three hundred
Acres in tdlage. And 1 have within these five years past raised 143
iiead of Cattle upon this same Farm.

Columbia Falls Farm and Village, No. ^, formerly colled tlte

Chaudiere FalU.
In the year I^OIi I began to clear off this Land, which waiat that
time in itd ^ tural state, not a single tree or bush cut down ; aho built a
log huusc and ercru'd my Mills.— -The Columbia falls which are adjoin-
inff the Village in the township of Hull, are of a very curious nature. A reef
OtRocks sti etching across the river, occasions the Water to fall about
thirty feet perpendicular, and upon the upper part of these Falls there are
three Islands, one of those Islands divides the stream of Water so as to
caune about one fourth part to turn a little out of its original course, and
fall into an immense chasm, which has been sounded to the depth of 113
feet, this water is then lost in the bowels of the Earth and no person know^
where it again rises ; In these falls are immense caverns in an irregular
form of about thirty feet deep, the number of Rocks and caverns at this
place arc immense ; the strata and layers are of various and curious form.
This cavern or tunnel will at high water in the spring of the year, convey
large quantities of trees and timber into it — And to see the velocity with
which it is whirled round is most suptising ; the force of water causing
such vast quantities of froth or surf, to collect to the thickness of 6 or
8 feet.— We have collected two hundred Cords of broken timber out of
this place in the spring season, when the water is high. The great ad-
vantages of these Falls are not yet known, the river might be easily brid-
ged across as the Rocks are remarkably high upon each side. It seems as if
nature had formed the abutments of a bridge, the span from side to side,
11 about 92 feet, and this great body of water is crowded through this
Channel with immense force. There is no place between these Falls and
Montreal, a distance of 1 20 inites, that there is any possibility of build-
ing a bridge across except at this place, from hence down the River for
sixty four miles, is a beautiful piece of smooth water, from one to three
■ miles wide, and generally from 20 to 30 feet deep, fit for a sloop of war
to pass. We have a Steam-boat of ninety three feet keel, which passes
four times a week up and down this fine River, besides the conveniency
of a fine smooth water above these Falls which runs about thirty miles ;
and it is expected there will be established a Steam-boat upon that part
of the River immediately— The Mill sites upon those Falls, exceed every
thing a person can have an idea of, one hundred mills, might be placed
there without the smallest injury to each other with perfect safety — I
have two Mills at this place, which are doing business for persons who
reside near 100 miles up and down the River. These Falls are composed
of remarkably fine Lime Stone. I have no doubt but Lime could be
made here at half the expence required in any other place — I generally
make large quantities every year, and it will be found to be of the great*
est advantage for Agricultural purposes. No place affords such quantities
of valuable Building Stones as this place, and at the same time so easy to
be obtained, as it lies upon the surface of the Earth. There is also a
remarkably fine bed of Iron Rock ore within four miles of this place,
lyinccn the height of a declivity and in strata not more than 18 inches

lalled tlie

'at at that
1)0 built a
re adjoin-
re. A reef
fall about
I there are

80 as to
turse, and
•thof 113
son know?

irregular
rns at this
ous form,
ar, convey
Dcity with
er causing
188 of 6 or
iber out of
s great ad-
lasiiy brid-
eeems as if
do to side,
'ough this
^ Falls and
y of build*
r River for
ne to three
lop of war
tich passes
onvcniency
irty miles ;
n (hat part
cceed every

be placed
t safety— I
lersons who
; composed
; could be
I generally
f the great*
li quantities
i so easy to
re is also a

this place,
n 18 inches

mak>W . W. 7r "'^r"'^ '*"' P'"*" '" ^' »''^ •""« advantageous for

«« ;:fthet;er^^riiJ:;r5p'a;S z:z s ':£rr

raledbva^n f"h " ^"''''';'^' ^'ir'"^ ""'"'-•"' «i'"'«io" could not be rl
vaedbyany, having two large Rivers emptying into the Ottawa near

and generally a good surrounding Country. All '^.e - i„„ ^cre flat

12oV^HV° ""Tr^'^' di.agreeable sensation of think f.hat I w
] 20 miles from all business, and 80 miles from a. y S.alcme " . however
I wa, determined to u.e every exertion that la> ^„ t^ po.' r wTh a

.econd Montreal 5 such was then my opinion and is n... Tron, convSe
proof, from twenty years' experience. Since that time I have coZn f
ced c leanng and building, and have also laid down the ,. of ViJage

1 802 r;*- 1 !;'?" ""^'rr^V «P«-"°n- J" every respect ^
Blacksl^h , qf "T ^f '"/ ^°8 House, and buih a temporary
Blacksmith 5 Shop, and purchased a set of Tools at Montreal, so as Z
complete any work in that line and save the trouble of going to Mon t'- "
^ for every little article we wanted of that nature. S^omonutH,

1803.— Hired a Blacksmith and Miller to attend the Shoo and Mill
and also cleared 100 Acre, of Land on the Gateno MeadmvT L h/
nefit of the Columbia Falls Farm, (1804) made TorSe rddhional .t

?rWh"e"t.'" ' ''"^'^ "' ''""' '^'^ ^"" °^ ^-'^^ -wedT w'Th

fn^K^^"""'"' 'i^'S' "f " *° ^y ^^' '^'fi'"^^" f'^et posts, and Shod!
fo the accommodation of my Cattle; gathered in the aforeJdWhlat
which proved an extraordinary Crop, not short of forty bnsh.ls per .ere
and cleared 100 Acres of Land on .he Ga.eno Meadow, fotheben fit
c.S°'"±' *''"' ^"^"'•and also aowedit with Fall Wheat
1806 —Built one small Hoqse and expended considerable sums of

fi0« On Ih 71 5^^" ^/'i'"^^!''"'"* ^t'''^'- improvements. ^

.Jl- ""^ '•* ^"^ °^ **'y' '^^ *^^*'^^ °f "y Mill, burnt down

and no insurance, same year commenced buildin;; them again. '

Dam. &7 ""P'-ovements upon the Land, repairs upon the Mill

18IO.-Built a dwelling House and Store and removed to this place
to take charge of the whole (cost about 1 200 Pounds.) ^ *

181 1— Employed about ten men upon this farm in different branches
of^busmess. and made further improvements, and aI.o built a la rge School

1812.— Much the same as the preceding year, upon this part.

1813.1— Built a House cleared some Land and made considerable fen- -
cing also buiU a Barn and cleared about 100 Acres of Land to the Gate-
no Meadow, for the use of the Columbia Falls farm.

1814, 15, 16 — Much the same routine as the years before mention-
ed, except letting out a number of Jobs for clearing of Land.

1817.-^BuiU a large School House.

1818.— -Built a large dwelling House about ISO Rods from the Falls
upon a height of Ground which as soon as finished, I removed into, and
placed one of my Sons in the one I hadj st left, to take charge of the
Falls Store &c this House was 40 feet square, two Stories high. Kitchen
to the same 'J4 feet by 48 with five stacks of chimneys at the expense of
about ^2000, with Sheds adjoining the same, Barn, &c. This House is in-
closed wuh a handsome railed fence, and the Ground planted with or-
namental trees of different kmds, Elm, English Poplar, Rock Maple
and Butternut ; we likewise laid out a Road to the Lake Chaudierc, seven
miles in length, called Britannia Road, then plowed it on each hide, and
threw the earth to the centre to form it oval, levelled the hills and laid
thestuff fiom the top iato low places, built a number of Bridges and
paved it with broken Stones in the low places, also built Stores at each
end, for the deposit of different kinds of Goods, for the accommodation
of the Upper Country. I also built a large Barn, 40 by 60— 18 feet
posts, Sheds, Yards, &c. to the amount of 1 500 Pounds, 3 Gardens, also
fenced round with a Stone Wall ; with an extensive Nursery of young
Fruit Trees, which cost me about ^^300.

1819— Erected a large Tannery with Cylinder to Grind Bark by
water, 40 feet by 75, three Stories high with Dams to contain the water
for working the Mill ; cost about ^600—1 also built a dwelling House,
20 feet by 30 upon the Common so called, this cost me about / aoo.

1820 — Built a large House called the Columbia Hotel, 40 feet by
83 with four Stacks of Chimneys, and eighteien fire places, three Story
high on the front, this House is upon a large scale with two handsome
Arched Chambers, and well finished off, painted and railed in front with
seats and trees planted for the accommodation of public travellers, cost
me about £2200—1 have also erected a large Stone House, three
Stories high thirty feet by sixty three, the lower floor being appropriated
for Blacksmiths, Gunsmiths, and other Mechanir 1 Workmen, with the
advantage of the bellows being worked by water and also a trip hammer
to strike by water, this cost me about /[1 200 -Also two new Mills, one
a Saw Mill, the other a Grist Mill at the expense of £1600, with an
espensive Stone Dam to convey the water to the said Mills, 13 hundred
feet long, 20 feet broad and ten feet deep, the walls upon each side are
built with the best and largest Quarry Stone, the whole of the Stone
rough faced on the front sides, the insides of the walls filled up with
pounded Stone ; this is the finest Piece of Stone work in North America,
as is supposed by many ; some of the Stones required ten yoke of Oxen,
to draw thftti to ihp spot, co&c was about 2000 Pounds, I aUo built a

Stone building say 40 by 41-22 feet high with lofts, the Stone Wall

1822. -Built a Bakehouse, which cost me about nS—nIso built a
Stone Gun Hou«. 28 feet by 38, 12feet high finished com^te havW
arched Magazine and other Apartments, a|ood well palmed Roof to

or south end. is of well hewen Stoi. and 8^0^ 5 L? ^ I' ^T
8a>d f.out wall, there are two square^othed gtont Tith fh^^^
.ng inscriptions engraven .hereupon Le, (Krec^d inX ^ea/?"^^^^^
upon the other (bu.lt by subscript.on and donations). The SreJpTe i 121

bes .fed pt ^Vk-' '''^"!'" ^^"^"''^-'^ -d theS of he
best Ked Pine. We this year cleared sufficient Land to make ,m .f,!.

Lowe'rS\l^'tut^^^^ Surveyor General of the ProVihce of ^

fbZwirh : ^^ ^^°"' ^'"'•"'"^^ ""'^ ">«^« Answer as

.d^with "n add?'" °^ '"^ ^'P "^"'"^ ^"'^ '^^ ^^y P°-Vor etch."

A. T am not certain, but probably both ways.

«. What was the thickness of the Plates ?

A. I believe about one fifth of an inch. ' ..■iuv.

Q. Howmany Impressions should you consider proofs?

A. At least a hundred, {I am not a a««5/Vx.«;. in EnVravJn^l ner
haps a great ma^.y more. I am informed by the Enrnlve. £.'^
thousand have been struck off and that at least ^fifteen huTddmbr
pressjons m,ght?be taken. The Engravers have also inSdTtL«
the thickness of these plates is such, that after the first enS„V S
be worn cm, Uw.ll be possible twice to retouch it, so asto^Safte
each operation the making of a number of good impression, en»T,Lf
n could at first afford, so that I conceive fhe whornumber 2f innl^^
sessions which these plates by means of .touctngTre caplbl of 'at
fording IS between seven and eight thousand. ^

Q. Have you since the publication of that Map improved i- >
„fl" /.f^'= bestowed considerable time and labor on the imVrovement
of that Map fro«. actual Surveys, that hav. ,.ken place .incX d'Tfof

its publication and from my own actual Survey along the Boundary Line
under the Authority of the Treaty of Ghent.

Q. Plea«e to lay before the Committee the Map as improved ?

[Lieut. -Colonel Bouchette sent for and laid before the Committee the
Map as improved, accompanied by further documents for its future Im-
provement.]

Q. What length of time would it take you to complete the impro-
vements ? ^ r

A. About six months.

Q. What sum of money would you expect for your draught con-
taining the improvemenrs of your Map as now completed ?

A. £1500, or I would be willing to take the sum actually paid by
roe for the plates, and I would beside* expect to receive for my trouble
in improving the Map, one half of the impression free from the expense
of the Engraving, Printing and Stationary

Q. What would be the expense of the engraving of the whole with
its impr wements i

A. A >out ^250 for the Engraving of the Map of Lower-Canada.

Q. W'lat would be the expense of an Exploring Survey of the
Country lying along the River St. John from its source to Lake Temis-
couata i

A. Not much more than two hundred pounds ; but much depends
on circumstances and the nature of the Country to be explored.

Q. Are there any Townships laid out in the rear of the Townships
bordering on the Ottawa ? *^

A. None except Wentworth in the rear of Chatham.

Q. Wha» -.rculd be the expense of an exploring Survey of each of
those Tracts of Country ?

A. I caunoi say what such Survey would cost, but I would beg leavef
to refer to the system suggested in my answer to the queries put to me
and now forming part of the appendix of the last Repoit of W Com-
mittee.

Q. What would be the probable expense of an exploring Survey of
the interior C untry lying between Quebec and Lac des Ghats on the Ot-
tawa, extendmg North Westerly to an imaginary line f.om the depth of
Stoneham to Lae des Chats ?

A. It is difficult to say with any certainty what would be the expense
as inuch depends upon circumstances, ihe nature of the Country to be
explored, and yet I should conceive that a sum of £500 would go a
considerable way in the effectuating thai object, and at any rate produce
much valuable information.

Q. What are the documents from which that Country is laid down
upon the Map published by you in 1815. respecting the interior Country
lying between Lake St. John's and the Saguenay on the one side and
the Ottawa on the other i

A. Principally from an old Map of 1775 and Indian sketches, which
appeared to roe to convey the most correct idea of that unexplored

Country, and that Map appeared to aie to have been compiled from In-
dian sketches.

Q. What did the Plates offered by you to the Provincial Govern-
ment and mentioned in His Excellency the Governor in Chief's Mes.
sage of the Slst February last, cost you ?

A. They have cost eight hundred and ninety one pounds, twelve shil<
lings and four pence.

Q. What are the dimensions of Lake Temiscouala ?

A. Its length is about nine leagues and its breadth varies frome cne
to two and a half miles.

Q. Did the general Survey made by Major Holland, of Lower-Ca-
nada, under orders from His Majesty's Government in England, com-
prise the Country lying between Lake St. John and the Saguenay on
the one side and the River St Maurice on the other, and also the
Country from the latter to Lake Temiscaming and the Ottawa ?

A. I cannot say whether the instructions comprised the Survey of
this tract of Country, but it does not appear from the documents in my
Office that such a Survey has ever taken place, nor do I believe it has.

David Stuart, Esq. appeared before your Committee and Ans-
wered as follows :

With regard to your queftions respecting the King's Ports, par-
ticularly the Soil, Climate, Timber, Lakes, Rivers, with their
productions, &c. you have had information from people who
are better acquainted with the Country and better judges than I
am, therefore I beg leave to be filent on thai fubject.

The twelfth queftion is the only one on which I can give fome
information, in the Fall of 1 803 I went to the King's Ports where I
remained for fix years j the following fummer that I went there (fay
ISO*), I found that there were about one thoufand Indians, Wo-
men and Children included, between the River St Maurice, King's
Ports, Mingan Seigniory and Coaft of Labrador. V/hen I left the
Ports in 180° I was forry to find that their numb .ad diminifhed
to about eight hundred, and as far as I can learn they do not at
this moment amount to more than fix hundred and fifty or fevea
hundred at mort, owing to rtarvation, fmall pox, venereal, fevers
and what is ftill worfe, the quantity of fpirituous liquors that is
given to them by the Company and people trading along the
Coafts. When they go on board of Vefll'ls, Rum is their principal
object, by which they get fo much intoxicated that often in get-
ting artiore they upfet and many get drowned, and thofe that get
aftiore carry rum to their friends by which they all get drunk, and
while in this rtate they often fleep in damp places by which they

£4 t

get their death. Duflng Summer they fubfi ft on Fifh, Fowl and
£ggs, of which they have great plenty ; and in Winter, on Beaver,
Deer, Partridges, Porcupine ; and when they are near Lakes
by cutting holes in the ice they get Trout and White Fifli; the
tormer they take with hooks, the latter with nets, but as this is
a kind of iaborious work, the ice being from three to four feet
thick, they feldotn try it only when in a ftate of ftarvation.

Mr. Richnrd Delbughry, appeared before your Committee
and Answered as follows :—

M%?*? y°"' ^l requefted by the Committee examined the
Ne^* Settic^.ents of Lake Beauport, Stoneham, Valcartier, St.
Fatrick s and Port Neuf, and have you completed Statiftical Tables
ot thofe New Settlements ?

A. I have commenced the examination of the New Settlements
referred to in this interrogatory and am proceeding in the faid
examination. I now lay before the Comir.ittee a Statiftical Table
of the New .settlement jf Valcartier, under fuch generalheads
as feem fo me moft likely to convey the information desired. I
will proceed with all diligence to examine the other Settlements
mentioned m the interrogatory and when I have completed the
examinatioawiU frame and lay before the Committee fimilarTa-
Dles of thofe Settlements.

Mr. Deloughry aherwards alfo delivered to the Committee
the following Tables.

/L;

•>f .-.

A -^

■%

I
f

SCrrLEMENT OF LAKE BEAUPO

Number

of 1

Persons

i 1 Orains, ic. .Sown |

Arplm^iown u , ElVTG-STOeir

ill ^

\%-

•8

HEADS
OF

y ■=;

FAMILIES

£ H _ Us -J Uj a,

a ; -g S.-0 a , B

•k

Turnips
Timothy
Clover

3- €

.a PQ
Ji 1

III;

Mr. Shddgett,
Mr. Lan;!loir
Mr, Frost,

1821

20 i

Mr. Shad^ett hns erected three cuttaeesou the Preniites.

\H2Z

Mr. Lniiglois residing

ill : .1 . 1

in town.

.Mr. Kelsell

1822

Mr, Ilendi: .i,

1823

Mr. Beattie,

,«)

1823

Lieut. HorsUy,

e"^

None under cultivation!

Mr. Headnn,

None under cultivation.

Thomas Iluuible,

.V)

1822

3 1 , 1 ,

Mr. Norris,

,T6

1822

Peter Courtnevi

.■^8

1 823

i: !

John French,

1823

1
1

Erans Rees,

tie

1822

John Carncil,

;;

1823

Non<> underrultivation.

^ 1

Thomas Marsden,

1822

2 3)11

■ u

Mr. Milbourn,

1822! U M 1 1

Martin Kay,

None under cultivation'

James WHilace,

2 il822

Mr. DarWison,

3 11822

Mr. Srully.

2 il823

Sil

:V?r. iJamHeld,

2 1823

Mi. Anderson,

4 1823

None under cull iv.itlon.

._.L,,_

— >

..»..-,

— ...L

•* i^m

-nn

— ^' '^..■^m

Total

ii'i

I 1

i 1 i

~i 1 f 1

NEW SETTLEMENT OF PORTNEUl

l^i

.si

Nun

ibir"

.-,..,

guaT

NS,

Sec, Sown,

Altl'ENS Sown -.u

LIVE STOCK.

Pi.'mns ' ^ I'D

•i*

■s

HEADS

FAMILIES,

; .2

M
O

.2
«

Ill

IS: 1

j Oi =^

1 i2 »
1 o o
, a c

1 Si S

.2
u :

2 £

ft.

c
:3

tf.
>

g- ?!
^ ,2

2 ~

>lichl. Kerney
Jriin Geddes

58
50

5
4

1821
18«I

20
4

30
6

30
33
20
26

1 2~

2 5

Jnuies Thompson

.30

1821

Jauics Blair

1821

1 1

Cornelius O'Lcary

1822

none under cultivation

2
1

2
2
4

Geo. K?rvjsbotough
Claude Laird

62
35

3
4

1822
IS-'"

4
8

6
9
4

16
16

8
13

Daniel Kelly

1822

9
10

George White
ttichd. White

2
1

7
1

1822
1822

John Meighan

1823

none

under

:altivati

<j?orge Boust

,50

1832

,30

15
20
10
7
12

IJ 8

Denis Doyle

1822

f ^ 2 3| 1

Wm. Chambers

.30

1822

15
16

Ralph Callagan

1822

James Black
Grand Total

3
50

1823

8
HI

—

10
103J

—

4 20 1 1

234

5ij

2 8

1 1

SETTLEMENT IN STONEH^

HEADS

^^^

Grains, ike Sown, | Arpeny ^iown ia

LIVE Sl'oiiK "

Number
of

r "

(

Persons

■'• " '

Ml'

FAMILIES.

2
IS

2 S »

(ft

o
c

I
3

o
B

tr.

p^ i

a)
C

-fi

ta.

'^ t

=2h

rn 5

1 J jhn Collier,

2 Thos. Scott,

2t,

5(;

2
3

182 J
1821

4
14

3i i-

1 f

11
94

"'-,

\ ' ,

3 Matthew Davis,

1820

2.)

:i(

4 Nicholas Murphy,

1821

|l 1

5 John Wilson,

i(;2j

6 James Cody,

1823

7 Mr. Reyner,

8 Andrew Byrne,

.30

1823

9 James Brown,

1823

l^"!

10 .John Pflttlson,

1822

1
1

111 Simon Graham,

1822

7 2

12 John Henderson,

2.1

1823

none under cultivation

■~l

— .
1 1

I. tot. Males &. Feinal

77i|.3i52; O'i.'lGl 1 hh

rri

"ll

. ' i

T\~~

.EMENT OF LAKE BEAUPORT.

ta Sown in |

rmrsTOTK

vnmvuk

•*

(/)

S ?

•3

s g si

Sheep
Boars

Sows

2 =

3 a

s;5

1?
c c

Bundle
and

Cabbagi

three cottages ou the Pr

cniues.

town.

! J
f i

(
1
i

300

200
150

300

i 1
1

(

320

100

lAOO

20O
SO

35
43

i
1 j

— 1

"*■

_,.,__-,
1 1

; 1

—

ii"

—

1515

100

1500

300

—

;ttlement of portneuf.

Sown

1 n

i 5 In

;

LIVE STOCK.

PHODUCK.

I/I i) 0-

?■ ■' ,.

(ft
c
c

= en

1
i

5-a

ea
U

T
^

:g:3

1 — j!
-°, ,« *

"«

c c
3 a

ft
-4

1 2

2 5

200

400

100

50C

1 1

<•

350

1 1

250

220

ISO

1 1

30
45
24
20

250

300

70l

20
50

3 2 3

600

100

lool

75I 40

80,

100

10 2 8

i 1 1

4 20

1 1

S41

10 1

10 j
1

2375

530

700

500

120

TTLEMENT IN STONEHAM.

rt)V\ll III

LlVH-slTTOE

I'UODUCL

1 > .

1' >

«;

' ' f

- " «

- ! 1

,«,«

?r ^2

!§=

^4,;

ll:.!i

■ »

(1>

s
9

1/;

■3

■3 !o
= c

a a

(4.

Cff

/i
at

\ '

t;4e

■

""■

i ' >

50
60

3()X

500
150

1000

40
150

£(!(•
300
15Ci
ICO
155
70

-;u

400

120

10 10

r.oo

—

-- 1

■ 1 1

■B-W

/ 1

I 1

17a 1

c;r. 1

21 GO

510

I TOO

■100;

-AO

—

~ IhlOUUCK.

"""

■•

E. 3

1"
3 a '

3 S|

a op
3 ^5

94'

I 6100

210

1040 4

360

400

150

3 200

120

500

',0

400

120 1

3 100

4 200

ISO

4
1

7 500

5 350

100

210

250

160 2
50

8 400

350

150

iiSO

70 1

400 ;

120

170

300

250

12c

200

150

S 400
300
300

60 1
50

3000

40(

)

IICO

5 8

120

»7l54

,76,19340

1 99(

3, 25

D 800

1 2040 h

si sj

J *

Eflir'-iSSSi

«MM

SEiLEMENT of St. PATRICK, (Continued)

HEADS.

OF
FAMILIES

I Brought over,
SlJohn Bourke,
32Michl. Maher,
33 John Dee,
84 William WHlsbe,

35 Patrick Kelcoe, . -

36 Loughlan Coughlan,li>4

37 William Grant,

38 Michl. McGrath,

39 Charles Gouge,

40 Denis Dunn,

41 Jacob Doyle,

42 Thos. Doyle,

43 Maurice Dunn,

44 Wm. McCord,

45 Michl. Carroll,

46lWm. Synnott,

471 Wm. Paine,
48lFdwd. Bugpy,
49I Andrew Lonregan,
BcUlrs. Lowther,
51|.\lichl. Murphy,
SeIi limes Crotty,
SSlJiihn Ardell,
54ljiilin Donahoo,

55 Joseph Ouleiie,

56 Wm. MiLuskey,

57
58
59
CO

Juhn M'Callum,
Michl. Manning
John Sullivan,
John M'Ciury,

St. PATRICK, (Continued)

1172 37134 76,19340 [ 990, 25C\ 800|

TABLES

l.linfi.iiit/., Rir/wifl Dr/oiigfirt/'t //(ftarri.J

SLTIIJ,.M!,Ni' {)

V A l.-r ARTIER.

rmrsTTrk-

fimtmeg

III:m>'4

HA.Mir.ll-S.

IIWiii, H'lVI Hiiir. ,7u
VfJ.tmn Itoiiilo, !4li
nliiiiuo AI'mImmi, j.Vi
^J'PM'jih MirithiiiM. Hi

I \i.'. Alir.ili,iiM wiir. HI

(Ij'illll ,\hr.ttl4iM( 'Ji*

7|riiiiiM«- \iir,iliiiin, H

II Win. II H.^IJiiiir. i'ioi
■^llli'iirKi. llf.Mlin, ;4»,

lll'<Mv<i, |l.iiiii>r, .Kl'

l| (l.iorKci I'lirMilliMii, ln|

ll('l„irl... l'M,l,.y, l,V)

I ' IlKiniiii Miiriiii, !<o!

II UMiuin Wall,

I i.li'Mt'v Oli>nt',

l(lJ<ihii Tiirih r,

17 Uiilu-rl Id...,

In W1II14111 M"til«,

llllKriiuN Iri'lmnl,

'i^J'iriii'.Cfirnil,

'J|{Mii'llii'l(l.lir.

V:J'l'liuin4« IvIlviloM,

'J.l.lohii M'Tiirtiiuy.

W Ji'Hit Nurfiiii,

Ul llMiml.l M'Nii'liDl,

'Jii.l'>Un ?»lnrliir,

a7 TiKinix .M'Millsn,

'JH KimliiLiciil Miirjiliy, 'an'

UII;.ImIiii (i.i'iiiiy,

."Ai'Mr>, Mliiiv,

"l-rhMiii.i, ll.rry.

.'jJillTlf. M'illillMtO.

.\? Williiiiit l'.nntjfm\,

34 li>ilH llnifM'/iii,

.11 ll'illl It. Nurrrlll,

.111 iu^iiplt .\Jiirt'.tti,

.'7 W'in. (itHMU'iiiiiiifh

.•,11 Ituli. (i..<K|M|.m,

,1(iKliJ(ih lli'iiMtt.

4(1 H.ir.l, lliilii'iy,

'11 I'idwiiril lliitir,

4^'.lirhii.lotmMin.

4.'<lli'iil« Ciillllwi,

4in.uu. CiiiiiKin,

4.5Ji)|iri Swill. I'y,

4lfll«inir« Nwi'iivy,

47'Uitlil..S*lim'V.

^h.liihn IfniTii', '
■III (ii-rir|r« I'lillpul,
.SO.Iolin Oiii'il.
ailWin. Ilniwii.
.1u;Uiilid. Wiiril,
S^'MvUTV I'tfllrll,
.14^l■lhn .MMihwrv.
.M Aiiilri'* Ki'ir,
((/.liiliiiHiillivan,
27 Jitinct JohiiiMjiif

Orntul 'I'ot'l,

I I ' I
• Hrmnik— i imdiT llciiniuillcd ICO llir

»«

I'JOQ

.11 III

iXIII». ,

BOO
lOOU

300

130

auu

fiOU

140

100

snoi)

.xm

300

I.1C0

m
vo

aij

•0

nil

l.iU

3(1

lUUI

.WO

■2

.TO

SCO

40O

10001000

100

1000

300
100

moo

400

R II

WX)

■J

IBO

1000

lUOO

60
100

l.K)

13tJ

hoo

4(X)

1500 aooo

fiflO

1000

ll(NI

71X1

ISO

lUII

200

300

IBO

lUO

100
100(1

___

^,^_

17980

7600 SH

ij5»:

900

ten

.■ol

.SETTLEMENT OI' SAINT PATRICK

UK A OS

rAMII.IES

llllillV llllM.l.|i."

I'Viinci* Arnctl,
I'ct.'r .\n<lrrKin.
- rhlllp ZpII.
.', I'mntk .liiin..
I.; 'i'liiin. 'riiiinip'.on,
7j(»t.(ir^i' Ilniwii,
uUiillll l).irlM.iily,
u .1tu-hb Miirjihy,
loMolm Miilliilly,
III liTtnco Ilryiilr,
]'j!.li)ht'i.li Conn.
I.". D.inU'l lliiikkiy,
l'lj.\mlrcv» Cfinify,
l.'>Ma'hul Diivli',
liiChiirion Dliii'k,
17 Mldiul .MuiKhiiii,
Iw.SiirJciinl Hi'lfruo,
Iftjuiiu'ii ('iinncll,
Sill Di'tiln Ki'iincily,
- Willlnm Hurry,
Willow |.'ilr,|wirlcl(
J'ltlil WiiUhr.
Henry WiWi,
John IliMiduMin,
Kulil. Druw,
TlioMi Uonshoo,
JiMnpli Dk-kiiun,
.Famuli Iicwh.
I.uko Iliiluir,
lion. ,1Ii, ValliC'rv,
l.l. t'ol. Dui'imnny
.Mr. I'lHnii',
.Mr. IVIMlinmivilk'
Mr. I'arllmiill,
Mr. I.o llloiiil,
.Mr. 8iii|ilcloii,
.Inmtii Slliicddr,
.Major I'drrcnull,
1,1. Col. (jrai'ii,
.Mr, Green,

iirand 'I'olal,

Vr.'

li!'.' .

i. y

Robert Chrisliey Esquire, of Quebec, Advocate appeared be-
tore your Committee and answered as follows •

Q. Have you any local know edge of the Country on the Ris-
tJgouche River and what is the nature of it in general ?

»>, "^i" J"* V'^r f f''''°" ^° P^'' ^''"^ ^^y '^st Summer towards
the latter end of July, m Company with J. T. Taschereau, Es-
quire The Country is generally mountainous, the whole dis-
tance from the Indian Village to near the Portage on the fVa-
^cT'\It ''"^\""'^ exception, the Hills advance to the Ed^ze
of the Water; they appear for tiie most part unfit for the pur-
pose of Agriculture and are in general stupendously high and
steep, and m some places almost precipitous. There are how-
ever fmall intervals of alluvial Land in certain places, but thefe
are not very frequent nor iufficiently extenfive for making any
conf.derable Settlements. -The face of the Country nea? the
Tfagons,s and on the Rirtigouche, for fbme diftance below it. is
more level than m the Inferior Parts of the latter river, but I
think that a Settlement hereabouts would labour under many dis-
advantages by reafon of its remoteness from other Settlements and
the ditticulty m approaching it

Q. What is the diftance and the nature of the Soil and Country

Tnlo .K R-A-^T"? '^V'"''. ^'^^" f^'^^^^sis, one emptying
into the Riftigouche, the other mto the Grand River, which alfb

attrCra'dFlust^ River St. John, at about iive leagues

*A' TJ?^ "^f^'""^ °'"'/!?^ ^^'^'Se is I believe generally reputed

to be three leagues, and from having travelled it, I (hould myfdf

th nk u to be fuhy that diftance. On leaving the Waga.sis o/the

Riftigouche fide, there is a confiderable ascent, affer which the

land gradually ilcpes away until reaching the mi<r„ns;s on the

pppofite fide. I ae Land is very good and well wooded all over.

rhe whole courfe of the Grand River from the Portage to the St

John, eight leagues, is alfo good land, and the peJple on the

Madawaskn Settlement are beginning to make Settlements on the

Ljower parts of it near the mouth, which promife well. The Na-

v.gar.cn of this River {(Jrande liivier.) is in manv places obftruft-

ed by Jambs of drift-wood torn away by the floods in the

bpring, which form dams across it, which year after year accu-

mulat.; filling up with Soil, fometimes divert the courfe of the

River into new Channels.

n„?Q.^^'^ «-^^^ *^'^'^"''' ^'■""^ the confluence of the Grand
and bt. John Rivers to the confluence of the St. John and MnH...
^•«,vAV7, ana wixat is the nature of the Soil and appearance of the

I ft.

I a,
if

A. The diftance is about eight leagues and the whole way on both
fide is well fettled by a Colony of Acadians, who appear to be in
good circumftances, the land is a rich loamy Soil in general. The
River in the Spring overflows its banks and leaves a depoUt which
fertilizes the Ground to an aftonilhing degree. On either fide
of the River, the pfatins or flat Grounds extend inland for fotne
diftance. They produce abundance of Hay and Pafturage, and en-
able the Inhabitants to keep numerous flocks and herds, and thefe
would if they had any means of getting to JMarket with them be
a iource of great wealth to the Settlement.

Q. Have they no roads {o as to come out to the St. Lawrence
and thence to the Quebec Markets .?

A. No, they have in fact no fuch thing as a main road in their
own Settlement, ufing the river as fuch by means of pirogues or
fmall wooden Canoes, and this even from houfe to hjufe. Their
communication with the St. Lawrence, is extremely difficult and
has I believe never been attempted by them with any thing like
produce or Stock of any kind : the people feel the difadvantages
under which in this refpect they are placed, and complain much
on that fubject. They have in coming to the St Lawrence fifteen
leagues of water carriage to perform up the River Madawaska
and Lake Temhrouatih before getting to the Portage, which is
twelve leagues through and entirely impracticable for carriages.
They are distant from Frederifton in New-Brunswick upwards of
fifty leagues, and the interrup:ion of the Great Falls as well as
a want of roads in that direction alfo precludes them from that
Market.

Q. Is the land generally good throughout the Temiscouata
Portaget fo as to be fit for Settlements ?

A. Generally, it is good, but there is one tract near the River
St. Francis, where it will be utterly impofllbie to place Settlers —
It extends three or four miles on either fide of the Portage, but I
cannot fay how far in depth. The who'e face of the Country
hereabout is one entire bed of Ihivered Stone. It would be very
eafy to form Settlements on that Portage if the road were only
opened.

Q. Does the Portage abound with materials for making roads,
and what in your opinion might a good road across that whole line
of Portage coft ?

A. The Portage in many places abounds with good materials
for roads, fuch as timber for Pontages or caufeways, Stone and
Gravel in abundance. I do not confider mylelf as anyway fit for
giving an opinion as to the probable cost of making a good road
through the Portage from St. Andre to the Lake Temiscoitata^

but fliould imagine that four thoufand T5ounds would po a «rM#
way towards it :-Six thoufand pounds under prober ifageS
ToleLrct^"''"^" ^° "^^^^ ^^-' roVthrougirX

*h?'^^Tt ^°" any knowledge of the nature of the Country on
the Sc. John nver above the MadawasU Settlement and wh^at is

A. I Have no knowledge of it from my own obfer vation. b.u I
have understood from good authority that it is a rich Country nd
every way fuited to Agriculture. country ana

it f?ttleT?'' ^°" °^ ''""^ '' '^''' °" '^' Madamiska River and is
A. The land on the Madnwasl-a river, a distance I believe of

ZllXTu ^^f^^f °"^^ ^••°'" ^'^« head to its confluence with the
River St. John, IS of a most excellent kind as it appeared ton I
but there are no Settlements on it with the exceE of one ";
wo families placed there, as I underftood. by the (Jovernrnent for
the convenience of the Mail ( ourier. The young peopr"/ the
3/«rf«-^«v^<, >ett lement. are however beginning to make dea in.!
along this River in fome fpots, and in a few /ear. hence S
probably become as flourifhing a Settlement ^l^JadawaTka\S^.J

The following queftions were tranfmitted by the Committee to
(otIJZ%:T ^'^"'^^' "'° communicated the anXe"

trytLT;^;v^t^rth;ttr^^

ing into the Ri^ouche, the other intrthrGrand r °"' """- ^■
alfo difcharges itfelf into the River St. 5ot a^abott fi:;*,e?"^''
above the Grand Falls ? "^® leagues

.S'^.^'l T^S- '' '^^ '^'^'"" ^'■°'" 'he confluence of the Gr.n 1
and St. John Rivers to the confluence of the St JnL J,?'^
dawaskn, and what is the nature of the foU and aterrfn^'r
the Country ? appearance of

Q. 1-. Have they no roads fo as to come out to the ^t T
rence and thence to the Quebec markets ? ^^' ^^'^•

Q. 5 Is the land generally good throughout tho T ■
ortage, fo as to be fit for fittlement, ?^ "" Ttmtscouata

o^ ; "'■" S«="" any goou tnroi

Mortage, fo as to be fit for fettlements ?
Q- 6. Does the Portage abound wit

Q. o. uoes the Portage
_ — _, jur op
whole line oi Fortpge cost i

T . * •^"■"'6^ ««uuunu witli materia U {

roads, and vyh^ .„ your opinion mi.ht a T.TrZJ .,

Waoieiintot Pnrf^rro /-^.c* ; - ° '•* ="-i<^« mat

ith materials for making

t a annA v^..,) r • *

„ r.

Q. 7. Have you any knowledge of the nature of the Country
on the St. John iliver above the Madawaska lettlement and
what IS It ?

?; ?• What fort of land is there on ih^ MadaxcaskaV^xv^r,
and IS It fettled ? ,

lAriFWers to the questions above annexed."]
A. 1. 1 afcended the river Riftigouche in a canoe last summer as
far as the River H agansis. This is the only means by which I
have been enabled to acquire any local knowledge of the Coun-
try Its nature appeared to me to be generally mountainous and
little ht for culture, excepting that part from the mouth of the
river Riftigouche to a little diftance above the river Metapedia
There is alfo a confiderable extent of land at the head of the
River Riftigouche where good fettlemcnts might be made. The
borders of tht- River Riftigouche are covered with very fine tim-
ber for building, a great deal of which is taken for purpofes of
commerce. This river is further remarkable for its Salmon.

A. 2. The diftance of the portage between the two rivers
^ffl^ow.vM is about nine miles, the land is divided by a height
which is of pretty eafy afcent, this portage is well fitted for culture
and is covered m general with hard wood, fpruce and other
woods. The river Wagansis which difcharges itfelf into the ri-
ver Rtsiigouc/iey would be navigable for canoes if cleared of the
trees which obftruft it, the land about it is flat and covered prin-
cipally with Alders. The river Jfasansis which difcharges it-
felf into the Great River is alfo navigable for canoes if cleared of
trees, us borders are low and covered with Alders and high trees.
The fame obfervation might be made upon the Great River which
difcharges itfelf into the river St. John, the greatest part of the
borders of which is covered with maple, building wood and
mixed wood, the whole appears fit for culture.

A. 3. The diftance from the difcharge of the Great River in-
to the St. John to the difcharge of the River Madawaska into
the St, John, is about 27 miles. The country in this extent is le-
vel and inhabited on both sides j the farmers appear well off not-
wJthftanding the inconveniences they labour under, efpecially
thole of want of roads and of an outlet, and alfo thofe arifini
from the state of uncertainty in which they are, not knowine
whether they form part of Lower Canada or New Brunfwick, or
the State of Maine. The foil appears to be rich (rich loam)
very fit for culture. There appear to be very fine fields ; wheat
and other grain grow well. This country, in appearance pro-
niifesto become a country of great importance in agriculture

ii'

■ft

The farmers, however, complain that they are fometlmes expo-
led to flight frofts about rhe twenty-fifth of Auguft; but this in,
convenience must difappear there as well as elfcwhere as foon as
the clearing of land augments I will cite on this fubjeft what
Mr. Mofes Green leaf has faid in his « Statistical view of the
District of Mame" of 1816, page 25, on the effect of land
clearing or of felling trees, and this in relation to a place not ve-
ry diftant from the river St. John. « It is well known in other
«« pares of the United States that any confiderable progrefs in
«* clearing the furface of the earth has been attended with an
« evidently favorable change in the temperature of the atmo-
« sphere. Thefe fads will in a degree account for and be confirm-
ed by the varieties in the climate noticed ; and in fupport of
« .he general inference, another circumftancc in point may be- ad
" duced } near the centre of the diftrift and beyond all 'the fet-
" tlements yet made (if we except the few near the river St
« John) IS a tract containing about four hundred thoufand acres
« m which the inow is ufually gone and the leaves appear on the
* trees two or three weeks earlier in the fpring, and the weather
" in the fummer, particularly during the night, is fenliblv much
« warmer than in any part of the furrounding country within 40
«« or 50 miles of it. The only obfervable difference between
this and the adjacent country, to which this difference in cli-
« mate can be readily referred, is, that the earth's furface in
«« this traft IS more expofed to the direft rays of the fun than in
«* any other part of the Country of equal extent. In the au-
« tumn of the year 1798 a tremendous hurricane fwept over
« this tract and levelled with the earth nearly all the trees then
' ftanding; fmce which fires kindled bv the Indians and other
« hunters have overrun the most of it, and in many places
nearly cleared the furface, a young growth has arifen but it is
» not yet in many places fufficient to fliaae the ground, fo as to
«« prevent in any degree the direft action of the funs' rays upon it "
"I will refer alfb to « Young's letters of A^icota'' on the
«' caules which affeft the climate and ameliorate or temper it "

As to that part of the river St. John which extends from the
dilcharge of the River Madawaska to its foyrces, I have no
other knowledge but from the reprrt., of farmers and of the
authors which I will cite. The f>vnc:., oi Madawaska told
me that the foi of the land airag dn- latter part of the
River St. John is nowile inferior t ^rcdneli Jd quality to
that of the hrst pari of this river or which I have iuft now
ipcken. Ihis lecond part is Ji^habited for about eiirh't le^cnjPs
up irom the diichaige of the Madaxeasha, and I have' be7n

pi
P

i ;l

told that many perfons are defirous of having land there.
1 his part of the river St. John, that is to fay, from its junc-
tion With the Madawaska up towards its fource, reaches nearly
*°u'u^ ^'^^r ^**t. Lawrence, it comes from feveral lakes into
which feveral rivers difcharge themfelves and approaches very
near the river Etchemin. The Indians ^tcend this river in Ca-
noes at times and reach the river Etchemin by a portage in or-
der to come to Quebec. Some Americans have gone down
this River in canoes by making fome portages from the State
of Maine. It appears that this river affords a communication
very far iuio the interior approaching the Etchemin in Lower-
Canada and the State of Maine. It appears that an e^enfive
lumber trade might be carried on here and lumber arrive into
the Bay of Fundy by this River.

To give an account of what the older obfervcrs thought of the
couniry in the neighbourhood of this river, and of what modern
obfervers think of it, and in fupport of the reports concerning it,
I will cite the following paflages of Charlevoix and of Greenleaf.
Charlevoix, vol. 1st quarto page 1 17, fays " to return to the Ri-
•* ver St. John, it is one of the largeft of New-France. The bor-
.i ders are covered with fine oaks and many other forts of frees,
« the wood of which is of good quality, and particularly the
<c beech trees, the fruit of which is triangular and difficult to o-
u pen i but when prefented to the fire it opens itfelf and has a
* very good tafte. There are alfo to be found there vines, the
'« grape of which is very large, the skin thick and hard, and
«' the tafte delicious". Greenleaf after having given a general
defcription of the Interior of the Diftrict (now State) of Maine
which he reprefents as excellent Land, and where he fuppofes
that the River St. John forms a part of the State of Maine, fays
page 126 of his Book, " The Country watered by the St. John
" and its numerous branches forms the largeft fcction of the In-
« terior of Maine. In the eaftern part of this the furface is com-
" paratively very level, lying generally in broad gentle fweils of
«« an excellent Ibil, with a large growth of maple, beach, bafs,
« Walnut &c. intermixed occafionally with firs and other ever-
«« greens. On the ftreams are large and rich intervals. Proceeding
«< weftward the hills rife higher with greater diverfities in the
«« furface and qualities of the foil, about the heads of the Aroos-
« took on the fouth and Madawaska on the north, are Moun-
«« tainous tracts, the intermediate fpace and that extending weft
«« to the boundary of the Diftrict may be confidered generally
«« as a hilly Country of a good foil ; the growth of Timber is ge-
*« nerally the fatne as in other parts of the Diftrict between th§

<(
u
u

ft
tt
«

■■^

« fouth weftern branch of the St. John and the Canadian Fron-
" tier, there is a tract of fome extent of level, poor land, covered
" principally with hemlock and white birch, and about the great
« Lakes on that branch are fome confiderable tracts of low Land
« with a growth of fpruce and cedar, bu^thefe are not fufficient-
« ly extenfive to form an important exception to the general dcs-
« cription. ''

« Page 128 he fays on the whole tU:re is no vacant territory
« in the United States, which affords fo many advantages of
« communication with different markets already eftablilhed and
flourifliing, as are to be found in the unfettled part of Maine i
and It may be confidered as rich in point of foil and containing
as little wafte Land as any other part of New-England of equal
extent. As it proceeds in improvement, flour, poik, beef,
wool, flax, &c. will become its' ftapie articles. Ihe products of
about one half the territory will moft naturally find their way
to market on the St. Lawrence and St. John, whence neither
theftatenor the nation will derive any advantage from their
conlumption or exportation ; unlefs meafures are seafonablr ta-
ken to provide for good roads to the markets within the Dif.
trict (of Maine) ; and more efpecially to improve the advan-
tages offered by it."

Page 129 he fays « the St. John is paffable for boats afccnding
and defcending from the grand falls near the ealtern boun-
dary, toitsfource in the Lzkc Mpmoojeem-CJumook, cxcep-
ting a fmall portage above the junction of the Madawmka of
about 20 rods in length. The general rapidity of the current
is not great, boats defcending with it requiring about half the
« time which they do in the alcent. To pafs the grand fails re-
«* quires a portage of about 1^ mile, below which is good boat
i» navigation to Frederickton at the head of the tide."

.. ^r^u ^y' ^^ ^^y.'' " "*'**''y ""•^ half of the yet unfettled part
0*5^^ Country lies on the waters of the St. John, which will
«* afford the cheapeft conveyance for its Lumber and produce for
« many years; x\ may therefore be expected that whenever this
« fhall be fettled, nearly its whole trade will be confined to mar-
« kets on that river, out of the Jurifdiction or controul of the
«« ftate and dependant on the policy or caprice of a Foreign
•« Government; and whenever profit or advantage might accrue
« to the community from the reciprocal exchange of commodi-
« ties between its different members or fections, it will be wholly
« loft, unlefs a fafe and eafy communication fliould be opened from
" fome of the Sea-Ports within the Diftrict (of Maine^ to tU.t

tt
((

tt
<{

tt
ft

tt
tt

I'' I

tir

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« extenfive and valuable territory, to fuggeft the practicability of
*• fuch communication is the pre(ent object" &c.
Page 132, he fays.
" To reach the central part of the Territory or the South
*' "Western branches of the St. John, by the assistance of canals
" from the tide waters in Maine, three Routes present themlel-

ves.

viz :— 1st Through the Kennebecfc into Moose-head lake,
** thence into the West branch of Penobscot through thai des-
•* cending to Chesuncook Lake, from thence ascending through
" Umbazukicus to its source and thence to Lake Ahpmoojeene-^
•* Gamook at the head of the South Western branch of the St.
«* John. — 2nd. Through the Penobscot, following its Western
** branch to the head of Chesuncook, and thence as before. — 3rd
** Or through various small Streams and Ponds connecting in a
«* measure both the former."

It appears by these extracts of Greenleaf, that he conpiders tlie
Territories on the River St. John as forming part of the State of
Maine, and that he already contemplates the means of drawing
the commerce of it to the seaports of this State, and to turn it
away from Quebec or New-Brunswick.

A. 4>. The Farmers settled on the River St. John have no roads
on their Farms, nor any outlet to go to Lake Tnniscouuta, their
only communication between each other, and at this lake, is by
canoes upon the River St. John and on the River Madanaaskot
they do not even know the regulations they ought to observe res-
pecting the roads, not knowing under what Government they are.
From Lake Temiscouata there is a very bad road or outlet cal-
led the Temiscouata Portage of about thirty six miles long, to
reach the River St. Lawrence ; It may be said that they cannot
make use of it in its present state to come to the Quebec Market.
A. 5. The land is fit for settlement in the greater part of the 7V-
miscoitata portage, but there is a chain of high Mountains which
divides it, and one part of this road for about two miles is a com«
plete uncultivable rock.

A. 6 This portage abounds with the necessary materials fit for
the making of roads, either upon the old plan of the Country or
according to the system of M«Adam. To make and complete
this road and make the hills in the mountains of easy ascent would
cost I think about ^64000 Currency. Perhaps on the M'Adam
plan a less sum might answer. From the end of this Portage to go
to the River Madaxouska a fmall steam boat might be coaftructed
to navigate on the Lake Temiscouata, which would facil'tate th^
communication by this route to New-Brunfwick. From tt is I«ake

be ic^uired along the River

lu the PklV^T ot. johu u i'Qud v/OUiu

road. „o„M be required between Z river S,l":^„t7^°*"

qa«J;.'^'" ''"'"'''" " ="''""«' ■'J' "« '"f"" <o the third

f„r^'rLif'rn''"'''?'°°S"'="'"^'"''>='«*'' >re fettled onlv
lor a (mall dillance from ts junction with the St t„h„ .t '^

Extract t^^^T^i^^l^,^, of the HouTe ok Assembl;!]

MoNDAr, 17th February, 1823.

LIST of Roads feferred to in the Governor in nu- n »*
with a Schedule of the docunllntrrltTngt;^^^^^^^^^^ ^""^*^'
■'^ca^ through the Portage.
1. Petition of Andre Marquis, Courier.

4. Petition of several inhabitant? of Three-Rivers.

/?ofl// commonly called Craig's Road.
^^5. Petition of Landholders in the Townships of Ireland, Inverness and

a r> ■ ^ J^o^^ f'-o"' Sorel to Drummondville.
6. Petition of Inhabitants of Sorel and Drummondville.

Road to Kennebec, State of Make, United Slates of Jrr,erica.

Theu.der»j,.ed. Courier, «™^ ,w MaOsietween QueWo and

Fredencton, * ^""^

Humbly represents to Your Excellency,

?!, <

^'/

r'l

rnisccuata, requiring your P<;tilloner to pass this Portage every week in-
Btead of every fortnight, as formerly, it becomes more necessary than e-
ver to repair the worst parts of this Portage, as well to accelerate their
passage as to secure their safety and that of the Courier and other Tra-
vellers.

That about Two Hundred Pounds has sufficed, not only for making
the Bridges required, but also to make Causeways over the Marshes, the
passage of which was almost impracticable in many places for six
leagues and a half, that is to say from the St. Lawrence to the place
called the Grande Fourche.

That from that place to the Lake, a distance of five leagues and ^
half, there are still some Marshes, the passage of which is dangerous and
extremely difHcult, and over which causeways are highly necessary, as it
has already been done lower down. Wherefore your Petitioner respect*
fully prays that your Excellency will be pleased to order, that the lat-
ter portion of the said Road be repaired like the former, and shall pray.

Riv.du Loup, 12th Dec. 1821.

His
ANDRE X MARQUIS.
mark.
Th. Casault, 1
£d. Michaud. j

Witnesses.

We the undersigned certify tli ,? tue allegations contained in this P«;-
tition are true.

Riviere du Loup, 12th Dear; f: rr 1821.

ADOLPHE ROBITAILLE,
ED. MICHAUD,
LOUIS CARON.

No. 2.

Andre Marquis, Courier between the entrance of the Portage to Long's
on Lake Temiscouata, has been seventeen years in the service.

Says,

The Road from the Grande Fourche to Long's, a distance of eightee"
miles is in so very bad order, that it is necessary in the Spring and Fall
to take a circuitous route through the woods, and that a sum of about
four hundred pounds would be adequate to repair the Road.

That in the Spring and Fall of the year, he is compelled to go through
the woods from Long's to the entrance of the Madawaska River, a dis-
tance of fifteen miles : that a Road might be made for about two hun-
dred pounds.

That to make a permanent Road fit for carriages, from the entrance
of the Grand Portage to Long's at Lake Temiscouata, a distance of
thirty-six miles and sixteen acres, a sum of two thousand and five hun*

dred pounds to three thousand pounds would be required.

That he has ten leagues through the Portage without a .ingle habi.
tation, that ,t would greatly facilitate the conveyance of the Mails, if I
certain number of settler, could be procured, and that unless Govern!
t'"hU:orwill7eT. - «"l-enton

That one of his sons will agree to settle on one of the Lots latterlv *n

.roenL°?f '"r^"'' ""''''"' "" '''^'"g allowecS two ig,7nd
m pence a day. for t^ro years, and that a son of Long's would also

thJn' '?' ^r"" ""?l°y'^ f ""^ ^^'^'^ Tenmcouata to a place call.
the D,ge/e, a distance of forty five miles, not a single habitation is "be
found, that inconsequence the Courier is much exposed, and that s«tle
raents can only he expected by compensation.

No. S.

"^^ ^t 5""?/^ ^T^' ^""'^ "*' Dalhousie. Knight Grand Cross of

Chief oJ'.i^T"'?^'' f J"^^y °^^^' °^ ^•^^ ith. Governor °„
Chief of the Province of Lower-Canada, &c. &c. &c

HumM v"r "^ ?^'"!?.''J''^l!'^' '^' y"""^^'-' °f Kamouras'ka, Esquire

Humbly Sh.weth-That the small Sum of one hundred and fift J

pounds currency granted by the Legislature for repairing he Road o

Lake Temiscouata in the year 1821. whicli repairs were made under

&rrtt Xr* '' '''-' '' y-r Excellency, h:fp?otd

recessity with that sum. has expended out of L own monies the m

over JhT P°""«^«^»>'''^^" "l^Hi-'g^ and .wo pence halfpenny cu ren y
over and above the sum granted by the Legislaiure. ^ *^""ency

Wherefore y ir Petitioner most respectfully prays that it please vour
Excellency to order that the said sum of sL°y U pou„drthirteen
shillings and two pence halfpenny be reimbursed co h^ror th« he
UilTf" ^"t T'^'? °^y""'' P^""°"" '^"P^-''"g the sad rep t
'lnd'ralf;rt;ft"^^ ^ionfortiirconsiderat^ir

Kamouraska, 8th January 1823. ^"^* '^^-'^^'' J""''-

No. 4.

To His Excellency the Earl of Dalhousie, Knight Grand Cross of th*

Most Honourable Military Order of the W, Cap.anGlral

andOovernorinChief of British North America. &c Wc!^-^.

The memorial of the Subscribers to the Winter Roa,l U, * t j

from Grand Point in Kin^sevtn ,!,. .<?-il o- "> ff. - q ^^"'Pl^fed

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tweenty-four mJlea of which were begun in one thousand eight hundred
and sixteen by the Commisaioncrs for the interior communications in the
County of Buckinghamshire ;
Humbly represents,

That they were induced to finish the opening of that Road fro.n a
conviction of its being of great uti'ity in pronjoiing the Settlement of
the neighbouring Townships, and also benefiting the Commerce of the
Town of Three Rivers as well as shortening the distance from Grand
Point to Three Rivers by twenty three miles.

That a moderate aid from the Legislature not exceeding three hundred
Pounds, would effectually complete the Summer Road of twenty-eight
miles, and thereby tender most essential services to all the adjoining
Townships, and greatly faciliate their progress of culture and encreasing
populatio:..

Wherefore, your Excellency's Pet''! . ..:;.,, humbly request that an aid
no* exceeding three hundred pounds should be granted them.

And your Petitioners as in duty bound will never cease to pray.

Three-Rivers, January 7rh 1823.

f Signed by 29 persons.]

No. 5.
To His Excellency George, Earl of Dalhousie, Knight Grand Cross o^
the most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Captain Genera^
and Governor in Chief in and over the Provinces of Lower-Canada,
Upper-Canada, Nova-Scotia, New-Brunswick and their several de-
pendencies, Vice Admiral of the same, &c. Sec. &c.

The Petition of the undersigned Land-Holders of the Township of
Ireland, Inverness and Leeds.

Humbly represents.

That in consequence of the Lands bordering on Cra/g's Road from
the Seigniory of Saint Giles to the District line, being owned by per-
sons who have not performed the settling duties or caused the said
Lands to be occupied, the making and repairing of the Roads have
thereby not been attended to, and have therefore become so excessively
bad a to deprive the persons now settled in th? said Twonships of Ire-
land, Inverness and Leeds, from bringing the produce of their Farms to
market.

That the bad state of these Roads is of the greatest injury and detri-
ment to all the Settlers upon the Township Lands generally, and vvill
ultimately be ruinous to the settled Landholders in the said Townships,
unless the said Roads and Bridges be repaired. The full amount of costs
for so doing will not exceed the sum of two hundred and fifty Pounds
currency.

Your Petitionners therefore humbly pray that Your Excellency will

^!mf ^'^f ^'^^ *^'''" "'"'"''* consideration and to grant such relief
38 may be deemed necessary. ** "

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.
[Signed by 35 persons.]

g^j^ Ir-land, lOth January 1823.

tV,» P^^ iT! ^A "'!' ^.? P"".^r *''^ '''"'''°" °^ ""'"e °f 'l>e Bridges on
the Road stated m the Memorial. ^

l8t. Kempt Bridge which is about one hundred and fifty feet between
.hhT^ !l "'""^'y' 'he Trout Lake and Lake Pitt, if it'a not at-

tended to, will stop all the communnication between the Townships and
Quebec, unless they go round by Thrte-Rivers, which I am informed
IS near one hundred miles farther. «uiormea

2d The Grenadier's Bridge about one hundred feet, Millsr's Bridge
about the said extent ; forty several other Bridges of inferior sizes and
causeways that were built in the time of Sir James Craig, as I think in
the year one thousand eight hundred and nine, have never been repaired
eince, only little temporary repairs that the lew Inhabitants did : I hope
wToSli " "^^^^^^'^''^ *° His Excellency, and so doing you
Sir,

Your very obedient humble Servant,
A iir r. ^ , J°"^' M«LEAN, L. M-

A. W. COCHUAN, Esq. 1 , . 11 .

Provincial Secretary, Quebec. / '

No. 6.

lo H:s Excellency the Right Honourable George Earl of Dalhousie,
Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of
the Bath, Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the
Provinces of Upper and Lower-Canada, &c. &c. &c.
The Petition of the Inhabitants of Sorel, Drummondville, &c.
Humbly Shewetb,
That at present there is no Road between Sorel and Drummondville,
v^hich not only affects the advancement of theee important and growing
pillages, but le a senous embarrassment to the trade carried on between
jhem, as well as most injurious to the intermediate Inhabitants, who are
litteraUy shut up from all communication with these places, but parti-
cularly With the former one to which they transport their produce.

Your Petitioners daily continue to lament the want of a direct Road,
as the Inhabitants of Drummondville are obliged to transport their pro-
duce either by the River Saint Francis or by the present circuitous rout,
a tlistance of no less than seventeen leagues, while Drummondville is

F 3

only nine leagues distant from Sorel in a straight line and across a fine
icvel Country, most suitable for a Road, having no hills, and but one
River to be crossed to impede the progrcsi of any carriage, while the
present mode of conveyance is attended with innumerable inconveniences
from the unevenness of the Road, Ferries, &c. if the goods are sent by
land, and by many rapids, portages, 8cc. if conveyed by water, toge-
ther with the great distance of the journey, whereby the expenses of
transportation are considerably encreased.

That a direct Road has long b3en desired by all the Inhabitants of
these places, and they have succeeded in completing part of the proposed
Road, but are unable to finish the whole without Your Excellency's
assistance. On the proposed Road leading directly from Sorel to
Drummondville, about five nailes have been made and are in good oroer,
as also six miles through the Seignioiy of Deguire, leaving only about
sixteen miles of new Road to be made at the public expense, and out
of those sixteen miles four and half leagues of the new Road are cut,
twelve feet vvide, marking out the Road very distinctly from Deguire to
Drummondville.

That Mr. Josia, Wurtele has a Settlement of about three hundred
Settlers, in the Seigniory of Deguire, who are totally destitute of a
Road to either of the aforementioned places, thereby suffering great
inconveniences, as they are unable to take their produce to Sorel and also
to convey those articles in return to their Settlement which their neces-
sities require.

That Sorel and Drummondville are rapidly encreasing in population,
that at the former place, five new wharves have been lately erected for
the accommodation of Steam-Boats, that ar extensive Trad t«

between Sorel and Drummondville, zs also with ^he intermedia; - n-
try and with the Country South of Drummondville ; further, sucn h
Road as the one laid out by your Petitioners would undoubtedly enhance
the value of the Lands through which it may pass, as v-dl as the cir-
cumjacent Lands ; but above all, it would contribute greatly to the
prosperity, welfare, and hapinesg of your Petitioners.

Your Petitioners are further stimulated to petition Your Excellency
on the present occasion, as no public monies have a i yet been expended
on the improvement of Roads, convenient to theni ; and as they have
advanced considerable sums, especially at Sorel, for the making of this
new Road, they have little doubt but Your Excellency will take their
circumstances into conside-ation, and will grant them that supply which
the nature of their case requires.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

Sorel, December 30th 1822.

[Signed by 86 persons.]

Monday, 17th February 1823.

RESENT, Messrs. Tascliereau, Oldham, Clouet and Cuvillier,
Mr. Taschereau called to the Chair.

Mr. William Sax appeared before your Committee, and made answer
to the tollowing Questions,

Q. Is there a Road between Sorel and Drummondville ?

TT "'.l' " °P^" '■^' ^'^^ ^^ Upton, but not in a direct line. From

Upton to Drummondville there is no Road.

Q. >\hat length of Road remains to be made between Sore! and
Urummondville, by the shortest way ?

A. The shortest and most direct way is eleven leagues long, and there
are about hve miles of Road already made from Sorel to Drummond.
ytlle, and I have heard that Mr. Wurtele has made part of the Road at
his own eifpense on the Seigniory of Deguire.

Q. What Seigniories and Townships would that ?nad cross ?

A. The Seigniories of Sorel, Bonsecours and Deguire, and the
lownships of Upton and Grantham.

Q. Is the whole Township of Grantham in which Drummondville is
situated all granted, is it well settled, and what is its population ?

A. It «s all granted by the Crc ./n, and in great part settled— I do not
know what may be its popiilation, but it 19 considerable.

Q. Is Upton so likewise ?

A. Theteare some Settlements ''n that Township, but there is not to
my l^nowledge in that part which the Road would cross, althouRh that
part also i» granted by the Crown.

Q. Are the Seigniories of Deguire, Bonsecours and Sorel settled ?

A. Yes, the greater part of them is settled.

Q. Is the Road from Sorel to Drummondville of public necessity,
and if so, wherein consists siiqh necessity ?

A. I think that Road the best outlet from the Townships, for peo-
pie going thence to Montreal.

Q. Why should not that Road be made by virtue of the existing
Koad Acts, without the aid of the Legislature ?

A. I cannot answer that.

The Honourable Charles William Grant appeared before your Com-
mittee, and answered as follows, to the same questions as were put to
Mr. Sax. *^

To the first Question.

A. Yes, there is a Road which passes by Yamaska, thence to the
Kiver bamt Francis, and upwards along the River ar far as Drummond.

? 4

The second and other Questions, as {tr as the sixth inchisivelv, hav-
ing been put to him, he made answer as follows :

A. From Sorel to the second Concession of the Pot au Beurre^ the
distance is two leagues. There would be about two leaguei of' new
Road to make m a direct line, as far as the River Yamaska ; from that
River to the River David there would be a league to make, which the
proprietor J. Wurteic, Esquire, intends to open ; and by that way most
of the ascent IS avoided. This Road might be completed according to
law for Five Pounds /^r arpent, although in great part through a forest
ot light wood. The distance from the Riv^r David to the line of the
Township of Upton, is two leagues and a half, and the Road is well
made, and settled on both sides. There would besides be a Bridge to
make, or a Ferry to establish on the River Yamaska : from the line of
Upton to the ninth or tenth Range of Grantham there is no Road made,
but there should be made one of about two leagues in Upton and two
leagues in Grantham; I think the latter portion of that Road could
not be made for less than Ten Dollars per arptnt, of that sum the pro-
pnetors should contiibute one third. This last mentioned Road would
terminate at the Road established in Drummondville. This outlet would
be of the greatest benefit to all the Townships along the River Saint
Francis, by communicating with all the Townships as far as Lake Mem-
phremagog.

To the seventh Question,

A. All the Townships commonly called the Eastern Townships
-vould have direct access to Sorel, and consequently a good market, which
at present they have not.

To the eighth Question.

A. In the Seigniory of Sorel there is already a Road, and T should
not think It just to compel the Inhabitants to contribute for that new
Road in the Townships, where the Crown and Clergy have extensive
possessions.

Mr. Jonathan Wurtele appeared, and having heard the answer made
by Mr. Sax and the Honourable Mr. Grant, he confirms the same, and
says he has nothing to add.

Robert Jones, Esquire, a Member of this House, confirmed the evi-
dcnce aforesaid, and made answer to the folio iving Question :

Q. Can you say, why, to your knowledge, part of the money voted
by virtue ot the Internal Communication Act, was not laid out on that
Road ?

I • \ The greater part of that Road lying within the County of Buc
kinghamshnc, it was the interest of the Commissioners for th-t County
that the Road should lead to Three-Rivers, and when I applied to those
Commissioners, they gave as their reason, that the money appropriated
was not destined for the County of Richelieu, but that in their Report
they would recomitiend the opening of that Road as far as Sorel.

Mr Henry Scott appeared before your Committee.
Q. Have you been in the Slate of Maine •'
A. Yes. •'

Q. Is a Road between this Province an,! .r,,f Q, .
the Commerce of this Country TZ R f r. State as necessary t«
Montreal and the United State's" °f ^-'"'nanicat.on betvvcea

A. Yes.

^t^Z:^:ZT'""^'' "f'^—-'- bcwecn .ha, S.a.o a.1
A. Yes : but the Roadd are very bad.

Q. Is any Road opened between this Province and t he Stale nf \r ' »
Ar Yc3, this is what we call theKcnneb,.,^ R^ i ■^^^'^""•

and not fit for carriages. Kennebec Road, but ,t is very bad,

Stats b;t",L'Ro:d7"''' " '^'""" '''' ^'''^■•"" ->^ the United

if t IZ'tZ P:^uS tSUe^irft ^-" --f- -ade.
viz. Bath and Portland. ^ ' i>*.-a-ports in the States,

Q. What kind of Road would it be exoediVnt t« ™ t
good communication for carriages? "P^'^'^"* ^o make, to effect a

A. The trees ought to be cut down four or five rods in hm.A.u
Causeways and Bridges made. breadth, and

Mr. William Hall appeared bt'fore your Committee.

befgSra";:!uig: 'o^^^^[^:s';'^' ''' ^^ --'^

Concessions of .ht StatJof S'ain't'uld /me to^ 02:0! ''; \''^
all kindi of goods ; a good d,^al of ^:.ffi» o j '" V^ucDet to purchase

tions would i brolightTby this Roa^ "haf rr "\'^^ ^" ^"^''P-
coming from the State of MaLb^hewa'v of Sr..', i""^!" '^^^P''"-

of four hundred miles althou^^h thev are h JhKtT I ^j . ^ '-""''^"'^
miles distant from Quebec. ^ ^ °"^ ^"'"^^'^'^ ^nd fifty

A. Non7 ^"^"'"■^ "'■ '^°"'"^^'P granted on that Road ?
Q. What is the length of that Road anri «,»,,, e

be requisite to completf a Road.^rw;arki:d':f Kor' "°"^^ ^^°"'^

rods wide, as Mr. Scott obsefvedrtd'not w^der tl ^' ""'"^^ ^""^
great drift of snow would makei Jmn. ui ' ^""'^ '" """'er the
might be cut down and rimmed eadv ^ i" '" '"'"^ P'"'^"' '^'^^^ '^^-"
dollars per running acr Te m kS ^LI''T^\ '' '^' "'^ ^^ ^^"^
androuudedoffinf turn^iLma t" afdt'- n".^^ ^" ^^"''

tion of one only, might /ost a^tl e rate of wn ^7' ""'' '''^ "'^^'P'

Costoftherem^ainin^BridgewoddlTabluu^r/p^^^ '''^

The Honourable W. B. Tdton appeared before yom Committee,
ti/n- ^'" ''°" ^^'^^ ^^^ evidence given by the Honourable Charles
William Grant, and by Mr. Sax, Mr. Wurtele and Mr. Jones, respcc-
ting the Road from Soiel to Drunimondville ; have you any thing to
add or observe on their testimony ?

A. I shall only add, that as respects the general utility of the Road
to the people of the Eastern Townships, it is, next to the direct com-
munications with Montreal and Quebec, of the greatest importance, and
IS by far the most useful of the lines of communication, running parallel
to the River Saint Francis.

Q. Do you know the Road opposite Long Point in the Township of
Kingsey to the Seigniorial Line of Saint Gr(«goire, in what state is it,
does It want any repairs or completing : will you read the Petition of
several Inhabitants of Three Rivers, and have you any thing to observe
on it, and on the Road therein mentioned ?

A. On this Road I should remark, that as it runs through some un-
fettled Townships, it must of course be of a great utility to the people
cstabhshmg themselves therein, and if properly made, will shorten the
distance from the Banks of the Saint Francis to Three Rivers : so much
of this Road as was contracted for by the Commissioners, requires to
be ditched and drained throughout its whole length ; and in short, there
remams every thing to be done to it, excepting the felling of large tim-
ber, which would be better standing, as the logs and rubbish thrown
down by the Contractors, only serve to embarrass the operation of dit-
ching it.

Q. Are any persons obliged by the Road Laws to complete that Road
and keep it in repair ?

A. Not by the presumed construction of the Law in the District of
Three-Rivers.

Q. Could not the work asked for in the said Petition be done by any
persons by virtue of the Road Laws as in the other parts of the Pro-
vince without the assistance of any sum of money from the Legislature ?

A. No, it is impossible.

Q. What sum of money would be required for this Road ?

A. About three hundred pounds.

Q. Do you know the part of Craig's Road from Shipton to the Dis-
trict line of Quebec, in what state is it, haye the Commissioners of In-
ternal Communications of Buckinghamshire in the District of Three-Ri-
vers contracted with any person for this Road, and what has been done
in this respect?

A. I am perfectly acquainted with this Road, it is almost impassable
in its present state. The Commissioners contracted for making twenty
miles of this Road from Shipton, nineteen miles of which were widened
by felling the timber on either side, but the Road is now quite as im-
practicable as before the Contract was made.

Q. What sum of money would be required to complete this Road
from the River Saint Francis in Shipton to the District of Quebec line ?

a
o
n

A. It would require twelve hundred poundi to make the Road as it
ODgnt to be made. ■■

Q. What is the length of this Road >
A. Foriy miles.

Q. Is any body bound by the Road Laws to complete and keep the
Jvoao in repair r "^ r ••"*^

A. Ibeheveonlyten miles of this Road has been laid out by the
Urand-yoyer from the River Samt Francis

O. Why was not the whole of the Road laid out by Proch-Ferbal
of the Grand- Foyer f ' ■«'««./ t- eroai

.K^ R^T"'*u''-^'\T''^''''"P"'''""''^ ''''' ^^''^<="' Inhabitants on
that Road not being able to pay the expenses of layinjr it out.

<i. Does not Dudswell Road shorten the distance from the Eastern
lownship and from the River Connecticut to Quebec, and what len« h
of Roads remain to be done that way ? 'v. » "^ icuj^iu

A. From the Townships bordering on the River Connecticut, thi,
Roads shortens the distance to Quebec, it is laid out by the Gran,/.kvrr
from Hereford to Dudswell and there remains about thirty- five X
without Inhabitants, on thi. it would be desirable to expend about five
hundred pounds which would make it passable for cattle
Q. Would not that Road be of great public advantaire >
A. It would. o «^ 6 .

A. Not as the Law now stands, and there are many miles of thi.
Road a3 It .8 now laid out. which can never be settled, but I believe tha
by varying the direction of the road in a slight degree, it may be ca -'
ried through a Country that would admit of partial Settlement^.
Q. What sum of money would be required to complete this Road
A. To make a good and practicable Road it would require a larae

U pas^abr"^' ' '^ P'""*^" J"^'''°"^'y ^''^ °"' ^i» '"ake

«f ?*,^i'^r" '""'^ tlie petition of the Landholders in the Townshin
SemS? • 1-ernees and Leeds, and what have you toobservTonS

useful ^ **''"'' ^^^" "^^^""^ '^""''^ ^"^ ""''*''* •°' *" *'"*' ^°^^ » very

Mr. William Sax again appeared before your Committee.
to?dd7 '^"^ ^'- *''''°"''' ^"^''"^"y' and have you any thing

A. I should think the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds would h.
«uffic.ent to make the road from the end of Saint Gregoire to the River
Sain Francis opposite Long Point, because twenty-one miles of that Road
are already opened, so that winter carriages may' pass, and wi h the a d
of the above two hundred and fifty pounds it may be made so that urn.
mer carriage, may pass with ease and .afety. VV.th respect to Cra g^s

road I Iiaveto observe that the work done upon it by the Contractor!
has amchoratcd it in sevmal places within the distance of nineteen miles.

Mr. William Ilall again appeared before your Committee.

Q. Do you know the Dud,w( II Road, what have you to observe on
It, w'iat length is it, and what sum of money would be required to open
it, so as to make it pas able for carriages ?

A. 1 know the Road of Dudswell ; it will be, in my opinion, the
most public Road in the country ; the making a good Road will not
cost less than seven hundred pounds, but with the aid of Subscription,
« would perhaps only cost between three or four hundred pounds ; the
length of the road is about thirty-six miles ; the people on that road of.
fercd a few years ago to give a thousand days work upon it, and I have
reason to believe they are of the same opinion now, if an aid was given
by the Legislature. The proposed manner of making this Road, was,
to have each mile of it measured off, and set up at pubhc auction, and
the lowest bidder would have that mile to do, at the lowest rate adjudg-
ed to htm, by finding proper and sufficient security to fulfxl his contract,

Mr. E. I. Man, appeared before your Committee.
^ g. Will you read the Petition of the Inhabitants of the District of
Gasp6, praying for a Road from the river St. Lawrence to Lake Matap-
ediacand river Ristigouche, and what have you to observe as to the ad-
vantages of that Road ?

A. I have had communication from some of the first characters in Ha.
Lfax, Nova Scotia, on the subject of that road, so late back as twenty
years, at which time it was thought an object of the first importance, not
only as related to the improvement of the country, but also as related to
the immediate interest of Government, as promising great advantages in
the safe conveyance of the Mails between this city and Halifax, aa also a
rendezvoi-s at Ristigouche for a fleet of Ships, which might from thence
find the means of conveying troops through to the Settlement of Ri-
mouski, by an eligible route at about five or six days march.
Q. What sum of money would be required to make this road ?
A. I beg to refer to the Report of the Exploring Party, appointed
under the Act , which is now before the Governor in.

Chief, which states that it will require the sum of three thousand two
hundred and sixty pounds.

Q. What is the length of this Road ?

A. As near as could be ascertained without an actual survey, it hai
been estimated at about ninety-eight miles from Mitis to the New Mission
Point at Ristigouche, which is about eighteen miles from the Head of
tiialeur Bay, and which last distance of eighteen miles is a safe navigati-
on for large ships.

you^CoLL'^^""^^' °' ''' "^-'-'-^^ ^^ ^-t-. -ppearcd bef.

Q. Do you know the Diidswell Road, what havo vn., ,^ u
it, what length i, it. and what sum of m^n^y wou d be ' ^ "S""^^""
at, 80 as to make it passable for carriage, i ^ '^ '° °^'-""

A. I know the Diidswell Road, from the East 1 in* «f wr ir
to the North Line of Dudswell, the distance UnT I / ^^f'^"^'*

twenty-three miles ; I think tha a .u^nf fi V I '? "^^ovmed, about
abouts: with the assi^aVce .Hltf I. habTt nu ff " n^^ '•'^•^"•

Dudswell. Westbury, Eaton. Newp rr S to J^^^ ^'.^ '

with the encouragement which Mr.'^^Jnthonv Ancfl "'^' '"^''^^"'

would be sufHcieSuomake thisRo^dpl^Tbltt;-:^^^^ "^"

JohnM'Nider. Esquire, appeared before your Committee.

^^ A. tlunk U very practicable by deviating a little from Mr. Man'.

Q. What advataffes would derive to th^ Pr«..- . i r

opening of this Road > ^ ^'°''"" "' '^''^e f'«'n tlie

Country for Settlers, as it abounds in good L d ^^ood T^T '"^ '\ ^'''
rellent Fisheries. Befides the distance frnmR:- ^ . "'^^'' ^''^ ^''-
much shorter than from Boston F?,l, f i5 '^""/l^ '° ^"'^« '«

my idea would not exceed one ZdrSf/fir "P"? ^'^^"'"•^'"g to
Road from Rimousky Ferrv isloH ? t ?^ P°""'^^' '^^^'''"*<^ '''«
half on the other it of I'Yrf 2 / !!" u' '''^"' ^-^ '^ '"^"^ «"d ^
try. to the southw fd one mt dee^ ^S'eRoll Tl •""'"^ '" ^° ^''^ «="""-
until you meet the Grand R ier Mitis wh^r. f ^'!' ^°"^'""? ^^^t by south
constructed at a very lit tie exLn,! « r?'"^^^ ""^^ ^' conuructed

that direction through t'he SeYgn ry 7Es ly"""'^' ^^^l!''""'"^ '"
edRoad to Ristigouche this E7 f u ' ' >'°" '"'^ '^^ ?•■">«-
the expense of thf Seigniory. " '^ '^'^"' '"'" ^^^S«e» be doile at

•

Jean Baptiste Tachc, Enquire, a Member of this House, appeared
before your Committee, and produced vauchers in support of the Ac-
count of Charles Tach£, Esquire, (absent,) laid before your Committee,
for divers works performed on part of the Road of the Portage of Temu-
eouata, by which it appears, that he has expended to the extent of two
hundred and eleven pounds thirteen shillings and one halfpenny on this
Road, as appears by the vouchers produced, and which the said Sieur J.
B. Tach6 withdrew, after their having been examined by the Committee.
The said Charles Tach6 has received on account of the said sum one hun-
dred and fifty pounds from Government, and wliich leaves a balance of
sixty-one pounds thirteen shillings and one halfpenny, in favour of
Charles Tach^, Esquire.

Q. Does there remain any more work to be done on this road,
and what fum would be necefTary to complete it ?

A. There remains, according to what the Courier (who goe<
that way every week regularly) ftates, five leagues and a half,
which it would be ntcefTary to improve, as has been done with
refpect to that part of the laid Road, which is mentioned in the
Account before produced, and I have heard my brother fay, that
a fum of about two hundred pounds would fuffice for that work.

Q. Is not this Road partly on the Territory of the United
States .'

A. I cannot fay, not knowing the Boundaries of the Province,
but it is the only Road by which the Courier can go to Halifax.

Lieutenant Colonel Bouchette, Surveyor General, appeared be-
fore your Committee, and anfwered as follows :

Q. Will you inform the Committee whether the Temiscouata
Portage Road, the ufual route of the Halifiix Courier, is fituated
in part, and what part, upon the Territory of the United States ?

A. That part of the Boundary Line between His Majefty's Do-
mhiions in America and the United States, comes under the fifth
Article of the Treaty of Ghent, and the Commiffioners under
that Article have difagreed, in refpect to which of the Ridges of
High Lands fliould be the Boundary. In confequence thereof,
after haying communicated with each other on the point of differ-
ence exifting between them, they have reported to their refpec-
tive governments on thai fubject. It is therefore not in my pow-
er to ftate, whether any part of the Temifcouat^ Portage Roads is
or is not fituated within the Territory of the United States, but
this, however, I can fay, that one half thereof would fall within
their limits, were the Ridge of High Lands affumed as the Boun-
dary by the American Government acceded to, inftead of the
adoption of Mars Hill Ridge of High Lands, maintained as the

87
Boundary on the part of the Britifh Govcrnm^nf T .

SiSc-s; sr.;trI€-HVf •' -

In refptct to every further inforinjtion on the fuble^ of .hr.
vie. T4l'^" e! "'' '-- '- -'" ■" -y ^o^r^pt F™?h

Q. Do you think a Road from Mitis to the River Riflicmnr!..
and gaffing near Lake Matapediac necefl-ary/anrf^r wrre::

font ll' L::2t:lLt^^^^^^^ '\^ ^«>'T>"g r

of .hat projected Road ^"pear ^J h fl' f^ etent" 'i" ^T
on account of the neceffity of fuch a Road nf rL ' ^'^'°"l'y»

tween the Diftricts „f oLk J"' Vo*^.^'^ °^ S°'""?""'"t'°" be-

ther Orong jeafon why thlt^Road S^ouMbrop "I j Z^rZ
raged in preference to the Temilcouata Ro^d^'dd. iutt ^
practicability of rendering this latter Rn,?r.'ffl-,'^^'r"
Carriages un.efs conaderUtJ^^Zj^V^^t^^J::;
of that Road, owing to the immenfe hills and rocky parts thereof,
befides ,t appears to me that upon the event of thar n.rr Aif
country through which the Bou'ndary L^e betet^h bI,^^^
Dommions m America and the UnitpH fi^.^ll-r, \ Biitjsh
a n.orter Road of Communt tiL / 1 Queb c't '* m'^ '^ ^'^P
^vick might ultimately be opened from about C.n ?^";-^""^-

»s .o render^, more conjeniem ni'fi, for tn'veUi.?; T"-'*

Madawaska. " " '^"^ ^^'^ ^°"'« ^o ^"J irom

Q. Do you think the Kennebec Road advantageous to the

D:;!rl' I of Quebec and to the Province at large, and for what
rcjon ?

A. I think the opening of that Road neceffary in a commerci-
.il pojii; of view and beneficial to this Province as well as to the
U.iite; States : it prefents a fhort Communication from this Pro-
vince t. feveral Sea Ports in the United-States, the diftancefrom
Quebe to the firft Sea Port called Hallowell being about two
I.tn IriJ and eight miles, and the greateft diftance of the laft Ca-
riKvli'iu and the firft American Settlement, by the Road now laid
cue OiK.i not exceed forty fix miles. It Is however to be obferved
tli.it the greater part of the lands on that Road are ftated to be
i\i\hv uneven, rocky and wet ; for further reafons I beg to refer
to ir.y Topography, page 508 — French' volume.

£500

ocu CoMMTiTEE having taken into confideration the Meflage
of iiis Excellency the Governor in Chief and the feveral Petiti-
ons <v.n\ Papers fubmitted, and the foregoing evidence, are of opi-
t^ion, ihat there ought to be appropriated feveral lums of money
for Ci-ening or completing fuch parts of the Roads hereinafter
n.cniloaed as cannot be opened by virtue of the exifting Laws,
ih;i! is- xo fay:

xm- i Road from Sorel to Drummondville, a
fiir.. not exceeding ---»..

Fn- fhe continuation of Craig's Road by Dudf-
ivcii -------

For the Kennebec Road - - - -

Vvr ;he Portage Road - - - -

To veimburfe Charles Tache, Efquire, a fum
i.>y hifii applied on the fame Road - - -

For a Road from Mitis to the River Rifli-
(jonche including the Sum of jfilOOO heretofore
apj^^uopi iated by the Act 57 Geo. III. Cap. 13. -

438

1300

200

61 13

2500

j^SOOO
Bt Inj; In all the fum of five thoufand pounds Currency.

The whole neverthelefs humbly fubmitted.

J. T. TASCHEREAU,
Chairman.